{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"AR\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-cosponsors-introduction-bipartisan-legislation-support", "Westerman Cosponsors the Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veterans' Right to Build Their Own Homes", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Bruce Westerman", "W000821", "westerman.house.gov", "westerman", "https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "This week, Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) introduced the Veterans Owner-Builders\u2019 Rights Act to expand VA home loans and provide rural veterans with the ability to use a VA home loan to build their own homes. This bill would establish a five-year pilot program under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make direct housing loans to veterans in rural areas for the construction of new homes.\n\n\u201cStable, reliable housing directly contributes to the health and well-being of our veterans. Unfortunately, high construction costs and interest rates keep many from investing in their future as homeowners,\u201d said Congressman Westerman. \u201cBy working directly with the VA to expand construction loan access and investing in the domestic building materials we have in our own backyard, this bill initiates an innovative pilot program that lowers housing costs and provides more access for our veterans in addition to supporting rural America and bolstering our domestic wood supply chain. I\u2019m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside my colleague from Washington to deliver real, bipartisan solutions that address the needs of our veteran community.\u201d\n\n\u201cBuilding our own home was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I\u2019ve ever done. While many vets have the relevant skills, they functionally can\u2019t use their VA home loans and leverage their skills to build a home. In fact, only 30% of vets use their VA home loans at all,\u201d said Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez. \u201cMy bill creates a pilot program for rural vets to use provided blueprints and expedited permitting to start building wealth and community-while increasing the housing supply for all of us.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nAs the U.S. continues to face a shortage of starter homes, giving veterans the flexibility to build a home creates a new path to home ownership. In rural communities especially, housing demand frequently outpaces construction. Many veterans already have the skills and knowledge to build a home, but without benefits that give them the freedom to use those skills, they don\u2019t have an opportunity to build. This means veterans are forced into a narrow band of options for how to use VA home loans. As a result, only about 30% of veterans use VA home loans. Owner-builder opportunities, like the ones this bill creates, simultaneously build wealth for veterans and their families, while adding to the overall housing supply.\n\nSpecifically, this legislation would:\n\nCreate a new direct home loan program at VA for rural veterans who want to build their own homes, utilizing the framework and eligibility requirements of an existing VA direct home loan program;\n\nProvide blueprints with American wood sourcing and manufacturing requirements to stimulate domestic timber economies;\n\nStreamline the permitting application process by requiring permit furnishment within 45 days of submission and covering all associated fees;\n\nProvide technical assistance for veterans through the VA or a contracted third party related to the skills necessary to construct or repair a home, as well as for the permit application process; and\n\nSafeguard against home-flippers by requiring the veteran to live in the home for at least two years or otherwise accelerate repayment of their loan.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10450", "RELEASE: HILL, LOCAL LEADERS ANNOUNCE $4.5 MILLION EDA GRANT FOR PORT OF LITTLE ROCK", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) joined Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Port of Little Rock Executive Director Bryan Day, Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde, Little Rock Regional Chamber representatives, and state and local economic development leaders to announce a $4.5 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant for critical infrastructure improvements at the Port of Little Rock.\n\nThe grant will support construction of infrastructure that will provide secondary access to the southwest portion of the Port and a more direct route to Interstate 530. According to EDA, the project is estimated to create 1,050 new jobs and generate more than $1 billion in private investment.\n\nRep. French Hill said, \u201cThe Port is one of the great economic development assets in central Arkansas and across our state, with tremendous untapped potential, which is why I have worked for more than a decade to remove barriers to development so local leaders and private industry can put that potential to work for communities across central Arkansas. This $4.5 million federal grant will help Pulaski County continue that momentum by improving access to the Port and helping businesses take full advantage of its river, rail, road, and air connections, making the Port and central Arkansas even more attractive for businesses, investment, and jobs.\n\n\u201cI have been proud to work alongside Bryan Day, Judge Hyde, Mayor Scott, Jay Chesshir, and our state and local partners to advance this vision, and I look forward to continuing that work with them until the job is complete.\u201d\n\nLittle Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said, \u201cI\u2019m grateful to the Economic Development Administration and our partners for their continued investment in Little Rock. Riverport Road Phase II will improve access to the Port and help connect our residents to high-wage, high-demand jobs. Together, we have secured more than $51 million in state and federal funding for infrastructure and Port projects since 2019. Each investment reinforces what makes Little Rock a unique platform for growth: rail, river, road, and runway coming together in one place. We are primed and poised for substantial growth, and this partnership helps us make the most of it.\u201d\n\nPulaski County Judge Barry Hyde said, \u201cThis may be a relatively short stretch of road, but what it connects us to is enormous. It will provide access to more than 1,000 new jobs, open the door to more than $1 billion in private investment, and make the Port of Little Rock even more attractive to businesses looking for a place to grow. Economic development does not happen by accident. It happens when people come together around a shared vision and keep moving it forward, and I\u2019m proud to be part of the team here in Pulaski County that has worked to turn that vision into reality. I want to thank Congressman Hill, Mayor Scott, Bryan Day, Jay Chesshir, and all of our state and local partners who have helped make this possible.\u201d\n\nLittle Rock Port Authority Executive Director Bryan Day said, \u201cEconomic development is a complex and competitive process. The construction of this road allows the Port of Little Rock to be more competitive and to be better prepared to attract industry from around the world. We are grateful to Congressman Hill and Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde for their support of the Economic Development Administration grant. Roads are critical to job growth, and this project will see significant returns in the not-too-distant future.\u201d\n\nLittle Rock Regional Chamber CEO Jay Chesshir said, \u201cIndustrial-grade access to new and existing sites creates more quality jobs, capital investment and increased revenues for local government and school districts. Without this required infrastructure, companies choose to build elsewhere. Today\u2019s announcement is a great example of the teamwork it takes to invest in our future. Thank you to Representative French Hill for championing this grant to help fund the infrastructure. Our dedicated economic development team, led by County Judge Barry Hyde and Mayor Frank Scott, continues to produce success for the betterment of our citizens.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe $4.5 million grant was awarded to Pulaski County through EDA\u2019s Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental program. The total project cost is approximately $5.6 million.\n\nRep. Hill has worked with local, state, and federal partners for more than a decade to expand the Port of Little Rock\u2019s infrastructure and economic development capacity. Those efforts have included federal investments to expand dock and rail capacity, improve road infrastructure, expand barge fleeting capacity, and increase freight rail capacity.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410980", "From the Front: September 25, 2026", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: September 25, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      September 25, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410979", "Womack Presents Purple Heart Medal to Retired Army Staff Sergeant George F. O\u2019Dell", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "BELLA VISTA, Arkansas\u2014September 24, 2026\u2026Today, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) presented the Purple Heart Medal to Retired Army Staff Sergeant George F. O\u2019Dell who was seriously injured while deployed to Iraq in 2009.\n\nThe Purple Heart Medal is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to servicemembers who are killed or wounded by enemy action. For unknown reasons, no award was made to SSG(R) O\u2019Dell in the years after his injury. In 2026, Congressman Womack advocated to the U.S. Army on behalf of SSG(R) O\u2019Dell for him to receive the Purple Heart Medal.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cStaff Sergeant O\u2019Dell answered the call to serve his country, and because of his selfless service and personal courage, he suffered serious bodily harm. For too long, the record did not reflect that measure of devotion and sacrifice. Yet, despite the hardship and frustration that followed, Staff Sergeant O\u2019Dell never lost sight of his commitment to his country or his fellow veterans. No medal can erase the pain of an injury, and no ceremony can fully alleviate the burden carried by those who have seen combat or who have returned home changed by war. But recognition matters, and today, I am exceedingly proud to honor Staff Sergeant O\u2019Dell and to present him with the Purple Heart Medal on behalf of the President of the United States and a grateful nation.\u201d\n\nDetails:\n\nRetired Army Staff Sergeant George F. O\u2019Dell was born on January 8, 1966, in Newark, New Jersey. After graduating high school in 1984, he relocated to south Florida and enlisted in the United States Army in 1991.\n\nSSG(R) O\u2019Dell attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he became a 19D Cavalry Scout. In 1994, he reclassified at Fort McClellan, Alabama, where he became a 95B Military Police Officer. Assigned to the 978 Military Police Company, Fort Bliss, Texas, he deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in support of Operation Vigilant Warrior.\n\nAfter transitioning from active service into the United States Army Reserve in 1995, he reentered active service in 1997, attending training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he became a 91B Combat Medic.\n\nIn 2008, while assigned to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, Texas, SSG(R) O\u2019Dell was attached to the 10th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Carson, and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF 08-10).\n\nWhile deployed, he served as the Critical Care Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge. On July 8, 2009, while providing security and overwatch during an Iraqi patient ambulance exchange for transfer to an Iraqi hospital, SSG(R) O\u2019Dell sustained significant injuries when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated approximately 100 meters from his position.\n\nIn 2013, SSG(R) O\u2019Dell was medically discharged from the Army.\n\nSSG(R) O\u2019Dell and his wife Nancy are current residents of Pea Ridge. SSG(R) O\u2019Dellis an active volunteer with Sheep Dog Impact Assistance, a life member of Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 8109 Pea Ridge), as well as a member of American Legion Post 341 in Bella Vista.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack would like to extend special recognition and thanks to Sheep Dog Impact Assistance for their support and stewardship of the Veterans Wall of Honor.\n\nPhoto Highlights:\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-announces-support-for-bill-to-protect-arkansans-from-paying-for-data-centers/", "Cotton Announces Support for Bill to Protect Arkansans from Paying for Data Centers", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nSeptember 23, 2026\n\nCotton Announces Support for Bill to Protect Arkansans from Paying for Data Centers\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today announced support for Senator Jon Husted\u2019s (R-Ohio) Ratepayer Protection Act, which would lower energy prices for Arkansans by proposing standards for state regulators to enforce when connecting data centers to the grid. The bill would codify key elements of President Trump\u2019s Ratepayer Protection Pledge by ensuring that data centers, not families or small businesses, pay for power generation and other infrastructure needed to serve their facilities.\n\n\u201cWhether it\u2019s the cure to cancer or help for their small business, Arkansans understand the great potential of data centers and American AI innovation but are also rightfully concerned about higher electricity costs. I\u2019m proud to support Senator Husted\u2019s bill that would prevent electricity prices from rising by requiring data centers to pay the full cost of grid upgrades needed to service them,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Ratepayer Protection Act would:\n\nPropose standards that state regulators may enforce when considering integrating new large-load customers with a demand of 100 megawatts or more onto the grid, including:\n\nRecovery of full, incremental cost of upgrades by the large-load customer over a long period of time through a special rate charge or other agreements.\n\nThis would protect utilities and their ratepayers from being left responsible for upgrade costs associated with a large-load customer, even if that customer later reduces operations or leaves the system entirely.\n\nFinancial assurances requiring the large-load customer to pay for any generation, transmission, or other infrastructure necessary to serve their load.\n\nThis would ensure large-load customers are responsible for the fixed costs associated with serving their demand rather than passing those costs on to families and businesses through higher monthly electricity bills.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-help-arkansas-seniors-obtain-timely-medicare-coverage/", "Cotton Introduces\u00a0Bill to Help Arkansas Seniors Obtain Timely Medicare Coverage", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nSeptember 23, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Help Arkansas Seniors Obtain Timely Medicare Coverage\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-New Mexico) today introduced legislation to eliminate bureaucratic red tape that impedes Arkansas seniors\u2019 access to new medical devices and services. The Ensuring Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act would increase transparency by establishing deadlines for Medicare administrators to determine if a certain item or service is covered.\n\n\u201cArkansas seniors deserve access to high-quality medical treatments, and they shouldn\u2019t have to wait on the slow clock of government to obtain coverage for them. Our bill would require Medicare administrators to give seniors prompt, transparent decisions about their coverage, ensuring they can address their health concerns in a timely manner,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\n\u201cMedicare beneficiaries should not have to wait years for cutting edge treatments while medical science and technology advance rapidly. Patients deserve a coverage process that is timely, transparent, and informed by qualified health experts. My Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act will bring greater accountability and certainty to Medicare coverage decisions so patients can access the care they need without unnecessary delays,\u201dsaid Senator Luj\u00e1n.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Ensuring Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act would:\n\nRequire Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to report whether a Local Coverage Determinations (LCD) request is completed within 60 days.\n\nRequire MACs to issue a final decision on LCD requests within 365 days.\n\nApply the 60-day completeness determination and 365-day decision deadline to LCD reconsideration requests.\n\nRequire MACs to publicly post proposed LCD requests, supporting evidence for LCDs, coding and billing information, and written rationales before LCDs can take effect.\n\nRequire MACs to hold public meetings, accept public comments, and obtain inputs from expert panels and organizations representing Medicare beneficiaries during the LCD process.\n\nEstablish evidence-based standards for LCDs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-hill-introduce-bill-to-defend-arkansas-small-investment-firms-against-costly-regulations/", "Cotton, Hill Introduce\u00a0Bill to Defend Arkansas Small Investment Firms Against Costly Regulations", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nSeptember 22, 2026\n\nCotton, Hill Introduce Bill to Defend Arkansas Small Investment Firms Against Costly Regulations\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative French Hill (Arkansas-02) introduced the Small Business Audit Corrections Act, which would exempt small investment firms from hiring the same expensive Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)-registered audit firms that large Wall Street banks use. Under current law, every investment firm, no matter its size, must pay for a Wall Street-grade audit, an expense that has driven small firms in states like Arkansas out of business.\n\n\u201cWashington wrote this rule for Wall Street and then applied it to small firms on Main Street. Our bill would eliminate this one-size-fits-all requirement to ensure investment firms in Arkansas are no longer punished for their size and are instead given the chance to grow and succeed in a friendlier business environment,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\n\u201cWhen we discuss regulatory relief in the financial services industry, the focus often falls on community banks. But small, privately held broker-dealers deserve that same attention. These firms serve as a gateway to the capital markets for Main Street businesses, yet they remain burdened by costly, one-size-fits-all audit requirements. That\u2019s why I\u2019m pleased to lead the House effort behind the Small Business Audit Correction Act, which will provide targeted relief for small broker-dealers in good standing, allowing them to devote more resources to growing their businesses and serving their customers,\u201d said Representative Hill.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Small Business Audit Corrections Act would:\n\nExempt privately held, small non-custodial brokers and dealers in good standing from the requirement to hire a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)-registered audit firm to meet their annual SEA Rule 17a-5 reporting obligation and would instead reinstate the previous regulatory audit requirements.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-lower-gas-prices-for-arkansans/", "Cotton Introduces\u00a0Bill to Lower Gas Prices for Arkansans", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nSeptember 22, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Lower Gas Prices for Arkansans\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation to lower gas prices for Arkansans by cutting costs and increasing domestic production. The Supply Relief and Domestic Production Cost Reduction Act would cap onshore royalties, cut lease and permitting-related costs, and increase domestic production for 180 days when fuel prices, inventories, production constraints, or other emergencies indicate supply stress.\n\n\u201cArkansans are rightfully feeling pressure at the pump. My bill would lower prices by cutting red tape and boosting American energy production,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Supply Relief and Domestic Production Cost Reduction Act would:\n\nCreate a 180-day \u201csupply shortage period\u201d when fuel prices, inventories, production constraints, or an energy emergency indicate supply stress, with extensions available if the conditions persist.\n\nLower federal oil and gas production costs by capping onshore royalties at 8%, eliminating royalties for marginal wells for 24 months, and cutting royalties on incremental new production from existing leases by 50% for 36 months.\n\nCut lease and permitting-related costs during shortage periods by reducing rental payments, lowering minimum bids, and waiving or reducing certain administrative fees tied to drilling and production approvals.\n\nProvide tax incentives to boost domestic production, including immediate expensing for upstream equipment, suspension of certain federal excise taxes on domestic crude oil, and a new credit for incremental production by small producers.\n\nExpand access to federal energy resources and protect production by requiring quarterly lease sales during shortage periods, extending leases delayed by permitting or litigation, and limiting federal shut-in orders.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410976", "From the Front: September 18, 2026", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: September 18, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      September 18, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-designate-arkansas-delta-a-national-heritage-area/", "Cotton Introduces\u00a0Bill to Designate Arkansas Delta a National Heritage Area", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nSeptember 17, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Designate Arkansas Delta a National Heritage Area\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation to designate the Arkansas Delta a National Heritage Area, which would recognize and preserve the economic, historic, and cultural importance of the Arkansas Delta and also increase federal investment and economic development in the region.\n\n\u201cFrom Jonesboro to McGehee, the Arkansas Delta is a vital part of our state\u2019s identity. By designating the Delta a National Heritage Area, my bill would recognize the region\u2019s rich history and important agricultural contributions while also delivering additional federal resources to grow the local economy and create more jobs for Arkansans,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area Act would:\n\nDesignate 17 Arkansas counties as a National Heritage Area (NHA), a place designated by Congress where natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources combine into a nationally significant landscape.\n\nNHA designation includes eligibility for National Park Service technical and financial assistance, which local coordinating entities use for projects like tourism infrastructure.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410975", "Womack Supports Sanctioning Russia\u2019s War Machine and Businesses Supporting Iran\u2019s Terror Regime", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014September 16, 2026\u2026Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today issued the statement below regarding his support for the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The legislation leverages expanded sanctions, trade measures, and financial restrictions to combat the economic backing of Russian aggression, in addition to extending the expiring Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) of 1996 through 2031.\n\nDue to a family member\u2019s serious medical issue, Congressman Womack was unable to be in D.C. to vote in support of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5334. His intended YES vote has been entered into the Congressional Record.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cHad I been in D.C. today, I would have voted in support of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 because Russia\u2019s war machine is only as strong as its weakest link: its economic overdependence on energy exports. Today\u2019s bill targets this vulnerability and others\u2014hitting Moscow where it hurts. Combating Russian aggression and supporting Ukraine continues to be vital in protecting not only our national security but freedom around the globe.\u201d\n\nCongressman Womack continued, \u201cSimilarly, the legislation extends our longtime sanctions against foreign companies that fuel the Islamic regime in Iran, including their nuclear ambitions and state-sponsored terror. Together, these provisions tell the rest of the world that the United States will not tolerate those who enrich our adversaries and threaten global stability.\u201d\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410973", "Chairman Womack Questions FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford at Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Hearing", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014September 15, 2026\u2026Today, House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (AR-3) led a public hearing on the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) Fiscal Year 2027 budget request with Administrator Bryan Bedford serving as witness.\n\nChairman Womack delivered the following remarks during the hearing \u201cOur eye is on a common goal that benefits not just the traveling public, but the economy as a whole. If we all row in the same direction, we will build a truly modern, efficient, world-class system. [\u2026] I am pleased that our FY27 bill continues to provide the FAA with resources to modernize the system. The facilities and equipment funding in our bill, coupled with the reconciliation dollars, is giving the agency a strong downpayment to make our aviation system the gold standard of the world. [\u2026] This is a big undertaking, but I am confident that with good faith and hard work on both sides, we will get this right for the American people.\u201d\n\nHouse Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK-4) delivered the following remarks during the hearing, \u201cWhether at the gate, on the flight deck, in the skies above, or just landed\u2014your mission is clear: safety, security, and efficiency. Congress is here to reinforce those key pillars and provide the investment and oversight necessary to ensure the FAA has the resources, workforce, and capabilities to carry them out. When we discuss safeguarding our national airspace, supporting U.S. aviation manufacturing, overseeing drones, and advancing emerging technologies, I am proud to say this subcommittee does more than just talk about these priorities. We fund them. We oversee them. And we work to ensure America continues to lead the world in aviation.\u201d\n\nChairman Womack\u2019s full remarks as prepared are available HERE.\n\nA video of Chairman Womack\u2019s opening remarks is available HERE.\n\nA video of Chairman Womack\u2019s questions for Administrator Bedford can be found HERE.\n\nA full recording of the hearing is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410974", "From the Front: September 11, 2026", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: September 11, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      September 11, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410971", "From the Front: September 4, 2026", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: September 4, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      September 4, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-burgum-accelerate-domestic-energy-production-to-protect-arkansans-from-foreign-market-volatility/", "Cotton to Burgum: Accelerate Domestic Energy Production to Protect Arkansans from Foreign Market Volatility", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallce or Hannah McCarthy\n\nSeptember 2, 2026\n\nCotton to Burgum: Accelerate Domestic Energy Production to Protect Arkansans from Foreign Market Volatility\n\nLITTLE ROCK\u2014Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum encouraging an administration-wide effort to accelerate domestic oil and natural gas development to protect consumers from foreign energy market volatility and ensure stable, low energy prices for Arkansans.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cOngoing disruptions to global energy markets and transportation routes due to the Iranian terrorist regime\u2019s aggression have demonstrated the danger of allowing American consumers to remain exposed to geopolitical supply shocks. Luckily, the United States possesses abundant oil and natural gas resources. At a time of heightened international instability, federal policy should be focused on bringing additional domestic supply to market as quickly as reasonably possible.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nSeptember 1, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Doug Burgum\n\nSecretary of the Interior\n\nU.S. Department of the Interior\n\n1849 C Street, N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20240\n\nDear Secretary Burgum:\n\nI write regarding the continued pressure on American energy prices and the need to use every lawful authority available to increase domestic energy production. I commend your August 20 Secretarial Order directing the Department of the Interior to ensure timely completion of reviews under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, identify categories of activities that may be exempted from unnecessary review, and make greater use of alternative approaches to expedite federal decision-making.\n\nOngoing disruptions to global energy markets and transportation routes due to the Iranian terrorist regime\u2019s aggression have demonstrated the danger of allowing American consumers to remain exposed to geopolitical supply shocks. Luckily, the United States possesses abundant oil and natural gas resources. At a time of heightened international instability, federal policy should be focused on bringing additional domestic supply to market as quickly as reasonably possible.\n\nI encourage you to coordinate an administration-wide effort to identify and employ every lawful emergency authority, alternative arrangement, programmatic review, categorical exclusion, and other expedited procedure available to accelerate domestic oil and natural gas development. The Council should also consider whether temporary royalty, rental, lease-extension, suspension, or other relief available under existing law could incent incremental production from existing federal leases. By continuing the Council\u2019s systematic approach for maximizing domestic oil and natural gas production, we can keep prices low for Americans.\n\nI commend your leadership in lowering energy costs through expanded leasing, faster permitting, and regulatory relief that supports greater domestic production and energy security. I look forward to working with you on this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10368", "RELEASE: HILL, BERA, VAN DREW, SHERMAN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF FULBRIGHT PROGRAM", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02), Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02), and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA-32) yesterday introduced H. Res. 1501, a bipartisan House companion to S. Res. 830, Recognizing the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright Program, introduced by Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).\n\nRep. French Hill said, \u201cThe Fulbright Program is one of Arkansas\u2019s great contributions to the world. For 80 years, Senator J. William Fulbright\u2019s vision has brought students, scholars, and professionals from around the globe together to learn from one another, strengthen international partnerships, and build greater understanding between nations. I'm proud to recognize this important milestone, celebrate the program\u2019s enduring contribution to American leadership around the world, and reaffirm Congress\u2019s support for its important work.\u201d\n\nRep. Ami Bera said, \u201cThe Fulbright Program represents the very best of American leadership by giving our nation\u2019s best and brightest the opportunity to experience other cultures, pursue world-class academic opportunities, and build lasting relationships abroad. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing this historic anniversary and reaffirming bipartisan support for the Fulbright Program and other educational and cultural exchanges that advance American interests abroad.\u201d\n\nRep. Jeff Van Drew said, \u201cSouth Jersey is home to incredible students and educators who understand that some of the best learning happens when you get outside of your comfort zone and experience the world firsthand. For 80 years, the Fulbright Program has given Americans that opportunity while allowing us to share our values with people around the world. I am proud to recognize this milestone and the generations of Americans who have represented our country through this program.\u201d\n\nRep. Brad Sherman said, \u201cIf Senator J. William Fulbright were with us today, he would be proud of the international scholarship and friendships that the Fulbright Program has made possible since he established it in 1946. Today, the Fulbright Program\u2019s modest investments in educational exchanges continue to yield incalculable goodwill towards the United States around the world. I am proud to help recognize 80 years of this important program.\u201d\n\nResolution overview:\n\nRecognizes the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright Program.\n\nEncourages Congress to support the work of the Fulbright Program and other educational and cultural affairs programs.\n\nCongratulates current and previous Fulbright award recipients.\n\nEncourages students, scholars, and professionals globally to engage and promote international understanding and partnership.\n\nBackground on Fulbright Program:\n\nOn Aug. 1, 1946, President Harry Truman signed former Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright\u2019s legislation into law. That legislation created the Fulbright Program, which is an international exchange program designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries. The Fulbright Program has educated more than 370,000 students from 165 countries, including 54 Nobel Laureates and 33 heads of state.\n\nIn 2016, Rep. French Hill led the House effort to recognize the 70th anniversary of the Fulbright Program, introducing a resolution commemorating the milestone and encouraging continued support for the program. Hill also sponsored the planting of an American elm on the U.S. Capitol Grounds in honor of the anniversary, joining members of the Arkansas congressional delegation, Fulbright scholars, and Harriet Fulbright for the dedication ceremony. The tree was planted in view of Senator Fulbright\u2019s former office in the Russell Senate Office Building.\n\nHill\u2019s resolution complemented a Senate effort led by fellow Arkansan Sen. John Boozman, whose resolution passed the Senate in July 2016.", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410944", "Womack Votes to Fund Government, Prevent End of Fiscal Year Shutdown", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014September 1, 2026\u2026Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today voted in support of the Senate Amendments to H.R. 6500\u2013The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027. This continuing resolution funds the federal government through December 11, 2026.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cWhile Congress should always prioritize passing full-year appropriations before the fiscal year ends, another government shutdown would be far worse for the American people. But let\u2019s be clear about what happens next: We cannot allow this additional time to pass only to end up in the same situation. Congress must make progress towards funding agreements that can be approved by both chambers and signed into law, providing American taxpayers a functioning government.\u201d\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-praises-nearly-150-million-investment-for-arkansas-from-rural-health-transformation-program", "Cotton Praises Nearly $150 Million Investment for Arkansas from Rural Health Transformation Program", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nAugust 31, 2026\n\nCotton Praises Nearly $150 Million Investment for Arkansas from Rural Health Transformation Program\n\nLITTLE ROCK \u2014 Today, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement praising the $149.3 million investment for Arkansas from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP):\n\n\u201cThe Republican-led Rural Health Transformation Program will expand access to high-quality healthcare for rural communities across Arkansas. I was proud to vote to create this program and look forward to seeing how this historic investment will benefit Arkansas families for years to come.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Working Families Tax Cut established the RHTP to strengthen access to healthcare in rural areas by allocating $50 billion for the program over five years. This announcement is the first round of funding for Arkansas. More information on the RHTP can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-praises-nearly-150-million-investment-for-arkansas-from-rural-health-transformation-program/", "Cotton Praises Nearly $150 Million Investment for Arkansas from Rural Health Transformation Program", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nAugust 31, 2026\n\nCotton Praises Nearly $150 Million Investment for Arkansas from Rural Health Transformation Program\n\nLITTLE ROCK \u2014 Today, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement praising the $149.3 million investment for Arkansas from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP):\n\n\u201cThe Republican-led Rural Health Transformation Program will expand access to high-quality healthcare for rural communities across Arkansas. I was proud to vote to create this program and look forward to seeing how this historic investment will benefit Arkansas families for years to come.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Working Families Tax Cut established the RHTP to strengthen access to healthcare in rural areas by allocating $50 billion for the program over five years. This announcement is the first round of funding for Arkansas. More information on the RHTP can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410943", "From the Front: August 28, 2026", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: August 28, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      August 28, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10369", "RELEASE: REP. HILL AWARDS USPS HIS GOLDEN FLEECE AWARD FOR FAILING TO STOP FRAUDULENT POSTAGE", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) announced the United States Postal Service (USPS) is the latest recipient of his Golden Fleece Award for failing to properly identify and stop fraudulent postage.\n\nThe United States Postal Service Inspector General found that the USPS struggled to intercept packages and letters going through its sorting and shipping process that had invalid or fraudulent postage. This puts the USPS and the services it provides at risk as over $1.7 billion is estimated to be lost yearly to fraudulent stamps or postage. This is revenue that the USPS could be using to reduce its $9 billion loss posted in 2025.\n\nRep. Hill said, \u201cThe USPS no doubt provides important services, especially for rural central Arkansans who rely on it to deliver everything from letters to medicine. But at a time when the USPS is posting yearly losses and the package transportation industry is becoming more dynamic, the USPS must adapt. Commonsense steps can be taken to stop the bleeding, and USPS already has statutory authorities to do so. While I am encouraged to see USPS agree with the recommendations the Inspector General has made, they must go further and rigorously follow through.\u201d\n\nIn his letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, Rep. Hill writes:\n\nDear Postmaster General Steiner\n\nI am writing today to inform you that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is this month\u2019s recipient of my Golden Fleece Award. I am awarding this to USPS because of its inability to detect and properly stop counterfeit postage.\n\nUSPS is an important facilitator of connection and commerce for the United States. A secure and effective USPS benefits all Americans. That is why I am troubled by reports that the USPS has insufficient controls in place to detect and stop counterfeit postage from being used. This includes postage for small envelopes and larger packages.\n\nReports from the Inspector General of the USPS estimate that $1.7 billion could be lost due to counterfeit stamps. It may be that the USPS Advanced Facer Canceller Systems (AFCS), which is used to read stamps and labels, is not adequate by itself to detect and intercept fraudulent postage. In fact, during an audit conducted by the Inspector General of the USPS, the AFCS did not catch a single piece of fraudulent postage when running in its low-revenue protection mode. This mode improves mail processing speed, but it checks only one of two possible tests and is clearly not effective.\n\nOther alerts by the Inspector General of the USPS have indicated that the USPS also struggles to detect counterfeit labels and postage for larger packages. These findings are especially troubling since criminals could exploit this loophole to ship illegal or illicit materials at no cost and courtesy of the USPS. From 2024 to 2025, package and shipping revenue made up roughly $9 billion of the $22 billion USPS generated in revenue, the largest single line of service by revenue. If the USPS cannot adequately capture revenue from this service, it will be increasingly difficult to maintain its viability, and commerce will suffer as a result.\n\nDespite technical limitations like the AFCS, the USPS also appears to struggle with prosecuting the creators of fraudulent postage. I am pleased that USPS will be improving its fraudulent postage enforcement activities under existing legal authorities like the Lanham Act. Under this authority, the USPS has prosecuted individuals who used USPS logos without authorization. To tackle this challenge, the USPS will need to use all of its statutory authorities.\n\nThe challenges faced by the USPS are existential. In 2025, the USPS reported a $9 billion net loss and a $2.7 billion controllable net loss. While this is an improvement over 2024 financial results, this is not sustainable, and the USPS must do everything it can to ensure its long-term viability.\n\nWhile I recognize some of the Inspector General of the USPS\u2019 recommendations to tackle fraudulent postage will cost money, implementing them would improve the USPS\u2019 ability to capture revenue and offset some of this loss. That said, I urge the USPS to seriously heed the Inspector General's concerns and implement their recommendations immediately.\n\nWhile the USPS is funded by its sales and operations, it should be a better steward of its resources to ensure those funds are not wasted. Should you require additional authority from Congress, I ask that you notify me. I look forward to working with you.\n\nSincerely,\n\nFrench Hill\n\nMember of Congress\n\nCC: Inspector Gary Barksdale, Chief Postal Inspector; Inspector General Tammy Hull, Inspector General of the United States Postal Service", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410937", "Womack Hosts House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers in Arkansas\u2019s Third District", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "ARKANSAS\u2014August 27, 2026... Senior member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) welcomed House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-3) to Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District this week. Together, they visited key locations and met with individuals who are contributing to a stronger national defense through advancing research and innovation, as well as bolstering military readiness and global alliances.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cIt brings me incredible pride to welcome Chairman Mike Rogers to the Third District and showcase how Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley are integral partners in strengthening our national defense. Chairman Rogers\u2019 leadership in guiding defense policy is crucial to Congress\u2019 efforts to meet the evolving needs of our military, and I am proud of the work happening across our region to support our men and women in uniform. From executing critical missions to developing cutting-edge technologies and capabilities, our district is helping ensure our servicemembers are equipped and prepared to meet emerging threats.\u201d\n\nChairman Rogers said, \u201cI was excited to visit Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District with my friend, Rep. Steve Womack. The U.S. defense industrial base is growing for the first time in many years, and districts like ours are the hub of this innovation. I am thankful to Rep. Womack for his leadership and his steadfast support for our nation\u2019s defense.\u201d\n\nChairman Rogers oversees the drafting of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that authorizes defense policy and spending for the next year. As a senior defense appropriator, Rep. Womack builds on the authorities established in the NDAA to allocate funding to the Department of War (DOW). Rep. Womack has worked closely with Chairman Rogers to secure language to strengthen Arkansas defense equities in the annual NDAA. Read more HERE.\n\nVisit Highlights\n\nDuring a working lunch at the University of Arkansas, Rep. Womack and Chairman Rogers discussed strategies for safely and efficiently transporting troops and the resources they depend on in contested environments\u2014the central focus of the Sam M. Walton College of Business\u2019 upcoming Contested Logistics Consortium. This event will leverage Northwest Arkansas\u2019s supply chain expertise to help address the complex logistics challenges facing our military.\n\nRep. Womack and Chairman Rogers toured the Grady E. Harvell Civil Engineering Research and Education Center (CEREC) laboratories where students and researchers are developing rapid-setting cement and other innovative solutions to help our military deploy resources and infrastructure quickly and safely.\n\nAt the Multi-User Silicon Carbide (MUSiC) Research and Fabrication Laboratory, Rep. Womack and Chairman Rogers saw firsthand how students and researchers are testing the next generation of Silicon Carbide (SiC) electronics to ensure our military always has the technological edge.\n\nRep. Womack and Chairman Rogers participated in a fireside chat moderated by Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce CEO Randy Zook at the 2026 Mid-America Aerospace and Defense Summit. During their discussion, Rep. Womack highlighted the importance of revitalizing the defense industrial base and maximizing defense spending.\n\nAt Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Rep. Womack and Chairman Rogers engaged with commanders of the Arkansas National Guard and 188th Wing\u2014including BG Chad Bridges, CMSgt Scott Manamon, Col. Daniel Wynn, Col. Jonathan Esparza, and CMSgt Jeffrey Weaver\u2014who showcased how the 188th Wing\u2019s current Remote Piloted Aircraft activities and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) F-35 mission are strengthening military readiness and global alliances.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410930", "From the Front: August 21, 2026", "2026-08-21", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: August 21, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      August 21, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410928", "What They Are Saying: Leaders Stress Need for Womack\u2019s Budgeting for a Better America Act as National Debt Hits $40 Trillion", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014August 19, 2026\u2026Representatives Steve Womack (AR-3), Ed Case (HI-1), Bill Huizenga (MI-4), and Scott Peters (CA-50) recently introduced the Budgeting for a Better America Act. This bill would require Congress to adopt a biennial budget framework, establish a bipartisan fiscal commission, and implement other good governance reforms.\n\nThe time for reform is now as the national debt surpassed $40 trillion this week.\n\nIn response to this grim milestone, Congressman Womack said, \u201cThis is yet another sobering realization for lawmakers that we can no longer delay addressing the fiscal state of our nation. Our record level of debt threatens our national security, strains our vital safety net programs, and creates a cascade of negative consequences for Americans from Main Street to Wall Street. Congress must come together expeditiously to pursue bipartisan solutions that responsibly rein in runaway spending before it is too late\u2013the future prosperity of our nation depends on it.\u201d\n\nIn 2018 as House Budget Committee Chairman, Congressman Womack led the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform tasked with addressing Congress\u2019 broken budget process. Building on the Committee\u2019s recommendations, the Budgeting for a Better America Act incorporates additional reforms to improve transparency and develop policies to address the long-term debt.\n\nHere\u2019s what leading experts across the country are saying:\n\nMaya MacGuineas, President of Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said, \u201cRepresentatives Womack, Case, Huizenga, and Peters, along with other supporters, deserve real credit for putting forward a serious bipartisan bill to help Congress budget more responsibly. It is especially encouraging to see leaders in the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum continue advancing constructive, bipartisan ideas to improve the budget process and confront our fiscal challenges. Getting back to a responsible budget will not be easy, and tough choices still lie ahead, but improving the budget process and creating a credible commission are important steps in the right direction.\u201d\n\nLeon Panetta, former Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and former Chairman of the House Budget Committee, said, \u201cIn our democracy, we govern either by leadership or by crisis. For too long, Washington has governed by crisis, delaying the hard fiscal decisions until the last minute while our debt climbs to record levels and the current budget process has stopped working. This is not sustainable and threatens the future of our economy, our national security, and the promise that our children can have a better, more prosperous life. I commend Representatives Womack, Peters, Huizenga, and Case for their courage to lead. Their Budgeting for a Better America Act would create a bipartisan path to stabilize the debt, improve our budget process, and empower Congress with the tools and foresight needed to confront our long-term challenges before they become a crisis.\u201d\n\nRob Portman, former Director of OMB and former senator from Ohio, said, \u201cAs a former Director of OMB and a former member of the House and Senate Budget Committees, I know firsthand the difficulties Congress faces in getting our fiscal house in order. It is clear we need creative solutions addressing the shortfalls in our current budget and appropriations process, and this legislation provides that path forward. The Budgeting for a Better America Act is an all of the above approach. It addresses the delays that plague our current budgeting process, asks more of our budget resolutions to ensure Congress has the full fiscal picture, and shines light on the nation's long-term fiscal outlook\u2014making members accountable for our untenable fiscal state. I thank Representatives Womack, Case, Huizenga, and Peters for their work on this legislation.\u201d\n\nJohn Yarmuth, former Chairman of the House Budget Committee, said, \u201cI strongly support the Budgeting for a Better America Act by Representatives Womack, Peters, Huizenga, and Case. Congressman Womack and I worked together on this legislation in the 117th Congress in order to promote a more thoughtful and farsighted perspective on our national finances. Annual budgeting has failed to be a sensible and effective process, and it is time to try a new approach.\u201d\n\nAsa Hutchinson, former Governor of Arkansas and former member of Congress, said, \u201cThe challenge of deficit federal spending has been neglected for over 25 years. Our budget was last balanced at the turn of the century when our country was debating the threat of Y2K. The deficit crisis is a fixable problem, and the Budgeting for a Better America Act is a bold bipartisan strategy that will work. The legislation gives Congress a biennium budget, specific deficit reduction targets, and a Fiscal Commission to provide longer term solutions to our debt crisis. I fully support Representatives Womack, Peters, Huizenga, and Case for their work and thank them for their courage to lead this effort.\u201d\n\nMichele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Action, said, \u201cCongress needs a budget process that clearly presents the nation\u2019s fiscal challenges and adequately focuses on long-term planning. The Budgeting for a Better America Act advances practical reforms to strengthen fiscal transparency, improve budget planning, and create a bipartisan process for addressing the nation\u2019s growing debt. BPC Action supports this thoughtful bill by Representatives Womack, Case, Huizenga, and Peters.\u201d\n\nMatthew Dickerson, President of Baseline Policy, said, \u201cThe 50-year-old federal budget process is outdated and clearly broken. Our national debt is growing unsustainably and putting America\u2019s prosperity at risk. The Budgeting for a Better America Act, led by Representatives Steve Womack, Scott Peters, Ed Case, and Bill Huizenga, is important bipartisan legislation that would help bring transparency to the budget process and a much-needed focus on addressing today\u2019s fiscal challenges.\u201d\n\nKent Conrad, former Senate Budget Committee Chairman, said, \u201cA well-functioning budget process is necessary for a functioning federal government. However, the current federal budget process is little more than a charade, and America is denied the opportunity to have a fiscal blueprint for the country. I know these problems firsthand from my years as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and I know they can be fixed. I commend Representatives Womack, Peters, Huizenga, and Case for proposing their bipartisan Budgeting for a Better America Act. It advances practical reforms, such as a move to biennial budgeting, and would establish a bipartisan fiscal commission to stabilize the debt. These reforms will not solve every fiscal challenge we face, but they give Congress the tools to finally address them.\u201d\n\nDr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and President of American Action Forum, said, \u201cThree truths are unavoidable. First, the U.S. has a dangerous federal debt problem. Second, the current budget process has failed to prevent the emergence of this threat. Third, it is hard to imagine dramatically improving the outlook without wholesale changes to the budget process. The bipartisan Budgeting for a Better America Act is a valuable set of tools\u2014 biennial budgeting, fiscal targets, a commission of experts\u2014to address this great challenge. Congress should waste no time in reforming the budget process and getting to work on reducing the danger posed by the federal debt.\"\n\nDr. Carolyn Bourdeaux, Executive Director of Concord Action, said, \u201cThe Budgeting for a Better America Act is a serious, bipartisan step toward restoring fiscal responsibility. Key provisions include moving to a biennial budget and establishing a credible fiscal commission focused on reducing the deficit to 3 percent of GDP. Concord Action supports this effort to bring greater transparency, accountability, and long\u2011range planning back into the federal budget process.\u201d\n\nAllan B. Hubbard, former Director of the National Economic Council, said, \u201cI commend Congressman Steve Womack for tackling our budget deficit through the Budgeting for a Better America Act. Our current budget trajectory is guaranteed to bankrupt our country and diminish the standard of living for all Americans. A responsible Congress and a responsible President would support his effort.\u201d\n\nBen Ritz, Vice President of Policy Development at the Progressive Policy Institute, said, \u201cIt's no secret that the current budget process isn't working for a Congress that refuses to follow it. Instead of carefully deliberating fiscal tradeoffs, today's lawmakers routinely dither past deadlines and pile on debt. The Budgeting for a Better America Act offers one possible vision for reform that is long overdue.\u201d\n\nBrett Loper, Executive Director of Peterson Solutions Fund, said, \u201cRight now, the United States is adding trillion after trillion to our national debt with seemingly no plan in place for the future. The Budgeting for a Better America Act is common sense, bipartisan legislation that would help fix our broken budget process. In particular, a bipartisan fiscal commission dedicated to reforms that would bring our deficit-to-GDP down to 3 percent would be a meaningful step forward for our fiscal and economic future.\u201d\n\nTom Kahn, former Staff Director of the House Budget Committee from 1997-2016, said, \u201cOur national debt is on an unsustainable trajectory which is detrimental to the economic future of our country. The time is long overdue for Congress and the President to act. I commend the authors of this measure for their leadership in advancing a serious and credible legislative effort to address the problem.\u201d\n\nWill McBride, Chief Economist at the Tax Foundation, said, \u201cThe weaknesses of the budget process have become increasingly apparent over the last 50 years, as the major drivers of federal spending and debt have been left to grow on autopilot. A bipartisan fiscal commission provides an opportunity to break through the impasse and find real solutions that would put the debt on a sustainable course.\u201d\n\nWilliam A. Galston, Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution*, said, \u201cThe Budgeting for a Better America Act would move the United States toward a sustainable long-term fiscal course and help renew confidence, at home and abroad, in our ability to govern ourselves.\u201d\n\nDemian Brady, Vice President of Research at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, said, \u201cThe Budgeting for a Better America Act clearly addresses the fundamental weakness that have undermined congressional budgeting for decades. While any meaningful fiscal reforms will ultimately depend on congressional action, this legislation provides a framework that encourages earlier and more accountable budget decisions. At a time of trillion-dollar deficits, rising interest costs, and the approaching insolvency of the Medicare and Social Security trust funds, Congress cannot afford to continue budgeting from one deadline to the next. This bipartisan legislation would provide Congress with a more transparent, accountable, and forward-looking framework for confronting the nation\u2019s fiscal challenges.\u201d\n\n*Institutional affiliation for identification purposes only.\n\nA one-pager is available HERE.\n\nA section-by-section bill summary is available HERE.\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10354", "RELEASE: REP. HILL AWARDS GOLDEN FLEECE TO FAA AND TSA FOR GAPS IN CYBERSECURITY", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are the latest recipients of his Golden Fleece Award for recently identified shortcomings in their oversight of aviation cybersecurity risks.According to GAO, nearly 44,000 flights carrying 3 million passengers fly the skies of the United States every day. As aviation systems become increasingly connected, protecting avionics and ground systems from cyber threats is essential to maintaining the safety and reliability of America\u2019s aerospace.\n\nRep. Hill said, \"Air travel is an essential part of American life and critical to the economic health of our nation. It's imperative that passengers, as well as pilots and flight attendants, have confidence that we\u2019re doing everything in our power to make sure they take off and land safely. Guarding the cyber systems that keep our nation's aviation infrastructure protected is a major part of that effort. While the FAA and TSA have taken steps to address cybersecurity challenges, gaps remain that require continued attention. Federal agencies responsible for keeping our planes flying must ensure they have defined responsibilities and effective risk management practices in place.\"\n\nIn his letter to Federal Aviation Administration Chief Information Security Officer Gina Fisk, Rep. Hill writes:\n\nDear Director Fisk,\n\nI write to inform you that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are the latest recipients of my Golden Fleece Award for shortcomings in their cybersecurity strategies. Nearly 44,000 flights and 3 million passengers travel through the National Airspace System (NAS) each day, underscoring the need for robust cybersecurity as avionics and ground systems become increasingly interconnected.\n\nBetween 2020 and 2025, the aerospace sector reported nearly 2,000 cybersecurity incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). These incidents highlighted vulnerabilities such as inadequate software patching, internet-accessible operational technology, outdated software, vulnerable remote services that could enable unauthorized access to avionics, and ground systems or manipulation of critical information.\n\nThe Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Homeland Security (DHS) share responsibility for overseeing cybersecurity risk across America's transportation sector. Their authorities are established through federal statutes, including Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016, and the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 further provides guidance for managing cybersecurity risk and transitioning to a Zero Trust architecture.\n\nWhile the FAA's cybersecurity strategy clearly defines agency roles and responsibilities, comparable TSA planning documents do not. For example, the TSA Strategy for 2018\u20132026 does not explicitly establish cybersecurity-specific goals or objectives to support aviation security. Moreover, it is no longer fully aligned with DHS's broader cybersecurity strategy. Other planning documents, including Administrator's Intent 3.0 and the 2018 TSA Cybersecurity Roadmap, similarly lack clear objectives and fail to define TSA's roles and responsibilities for overseeing airport and aircraft cybersecurity programs.\n\nThese documents also do not clearly identify the offices responsible for implementing their stated goals and objectives. Although Administrator's Intent 3.0 directed TSA to update its cybersecurity roadmap between 2018 and 2026, the agency has yet to do so.\n\nThe absence of clearly defined cybersecurity roles has contributed to confusion among manufacturers, airlines, and other aviation stakeholders regarding TSA's cybersecurity responsibilities. Although FAA has defined its role, greater interagency clarity would strengthen coordination across the aviation sector.\n\nThe Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requires agencies to report cybersecurity expenditures through the Cyber Budget Data Request process to inform the President's budget. However, FAA did not report complete information on its Information Security/Cybersecurity Program because it was not required to report all cybersecurity spending. Consequently, the Administration and Congress could lack a complete understanding of the agency's cybersecurity investments, including research and development activities.\n\nWhile the FAA's Cybersecurity Strategy aligns with several federal Zero Trust practices, it does not fully align with NIST's Zero Trust Architecture guidance. The strategy fully aligns with only three of seven identified practices, and partially addresses the remaining four. Full implementation is necessary to effectively manage cybersecurity risks.\n\nI appreciate the FAA's efforts to implement federal and industry best practices to mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting avionics and ground systems. The FAA must continue implementing its cybersecurity posture to ensure the safety, security, and resilience of the National Airspace System.\n\nIf additional statutory authority is necessary to address these concerns, I encourage you to notify me promptly. I also welcome any technical assistance the FAA can provide to assist Congress in addressing these issues. Thank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410929", "From the Front: August 14, 2026", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: August 14, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      August 14, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-following-passage-of-lindsey-grahams-russia-sanctions-bill", "Cotton Statement Following Passage of Lindsey Graham\u2019s Russia Sanctions Bill", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nAugust 7, 2026\n\nCotton Statement Following Passage of Lindsey Graham\u2019s Russia Sanctions Bill\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after Senate passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026:\n\n\u201cLindsey knew that strength produces peace and prosperity, and he believed the United States is the greatest force for freedom that mankind has ever known. Through every bill he introduced, every speech he gave, every statement he made, Lindsey ensured our allies knew our word was good and our enemies feared our resolve. Today, with the passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, we honor his legacy and send a clear message to our allies and enemies alike: the United States will defend freedom around the world.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410927", "From the Front: August 7, 2026", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Press Releases\nFrom the Front: August 7, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      August 7, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-following-passage-of-lindsey-grahams-russia-sanctions-bill/", "Cotton Statement Following Passage of Lindsey Graham\u2019s Russia Sanctions Bill", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nAugust 7, 2026\n\nCotton Statement Following Passage of Lindsey Graham\u2019s Russia Sanctions Bill\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after Senate passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026:\n\n\u201cLindsey knew that strength produces peace and prosperity, and he believed the United States is the greatest force for freedom that mankind has ever known. Through every bill he introduced, every speech he gave, every statement he made, Lindsey ensured our allies knew our word was good and our enemies feared our resolve. Today, with the passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, we honor his legacy and send a clear message to our allies and enemies alike: the United States will defend freedom around the world.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410923", "Womack Remembers Tommy Ratzlaff, John Brown, and 28 American Servicemembers Who Perished 15 Years Ago in Extortion 17 Shootdown", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "ARKANSAS\u2014August 6, 2026\u2026Fifteen years ago, on August 6, 2011, a U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter with the call sign Extortion 17 was shot down by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. All 38 people on board were killed, including Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff of Green Forest and Air Force Tech. Sgt. Pararescueman John W. Brown of Siloam Springs. The downing of Extortion 17 is the largest single-incident loss of life during the War in Afghanistan.\n\nRemembering the tragedy, Congressman Womack said, \u201cToday, we remember the thirty United States servicemembers aboard Extortion 17 who lost their lives in defense of our nation while aiding fellow troops under fire. I especially honor the two exceptional men from Northwest Arkansas, Thomas A. Ratzlaff and John W. Brown, who gave the last full measure of devotion for our country that day.\u201d\n\nWomack continued, \u201cRatzlaff was lauded as a skilled Navy SEAL who exhibited excellence in every mission he executed. Brown embodied the courage and precision required to be a warrior-medic in his duties as a pararescueman. These men exemplified service and duty, sacrificing their lives in devotion to something greater than themselves\u2014a sacrifice that speaks to their extraordinary level of character and bravery.\u201d\n\nWomack concluded, \u201cJohn Brown and Thomas Ratzlaff\u2019s legacy of courage and selfless service endures in the young men and women\u2014many from Northwest Arkansas\u2014who have sworn an oath to defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We are forever indebted to the sacrifices made by them and the other 28 fallen American servicemembers aboard Extortion 17, and their families, and we will never forget.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nOn August 5, 2011, American intelligence determined that a senior Taliban leader, Qari Tahir, was operating in Tangi Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan. A capture or kill order was subsequently given, and that night, a platoon of U.S. Army Rangers were deployed from a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in neighboring Logar province to execute the mission.\n\nAfter the U.S. Army Rangers infiltration, support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft reported several people leaving the compound where it was believed Tahir was located. The U.S. Army Rangers, focused on finding Tahir, did not engage this small contingent of insurgents.\n\nISR aircraft began noticing this group of insurgents growing, and intelligence suggested that Tahir may have escaped the compound and joined the group. This prompted American leadership to determine reinforcements were required. Their mission would be to focus on this separate contingent.\n\nJust after midnight, a group of Navy SEALs in reserve were activated to reinforce the U.S. Army Rangers as part of an Immediate Reaction Force (IRF). SOCS Thomas Ratzlaff was one of the U.S. Navy SEALs assigned to this team. In addition, before departing the FOB, a group of non-Navy SEAL reinforcements were added to the IRF. Tech. Sgt. John Brown was a member of this non-Navy SEAL group.\n\nThe IRF set off from the FOB with two CH-47D aircraft, call signs \u201cExtortion 16\u201d and \u201cExtortion 17\u201d. Extortion 16 acted as a decoy for the duration of the flight, while Extortion 17 held the entire IRF. Before making its final approach, Extortion 16 broke off and began its return to the FOB.\n\nAt approximately 2:38 a.m. local time, Extortion 17 was making its final approach. One minute from the landing zone, the aircraft made its last radio transmission.\n\nThe group of separate insurgents, just minutes before, had broken into two separate groups. One group stayed in the trees. The other entered a building in the compound, located about 2 kilometers away from where the U.S. Army Rangers were engaged.\n\nAs the aircraft made its approach, a rocket-propelled grenade was launched at the aircraft by a group of insurgents previously unknown and unaffiliated with the splintered insurgents intelligence was tracking. Striking the aft rotor assembly, the aircraft was immediately disabled and crashed within seconds of being struck.\n\nTwo hours later, at around 4:15 a.m. local time, the U.S. Army Rangers arrived at the crash site after concluding their mission. No survivors were found.\n\nQari Tahir was never captured.\n\nDays after the incident, General John Allen, the U.S. Commander in Afghanistan, stated that the militants who had shot down Extortion 17 had been tracked down and killed in a NATO airstrike.\n\nOn September 21, over a month later, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) reported that Qari Tahir and an associate were located in a dry riverbed in Sayd Abad district. A precision airstrike was conducted, targeting Tahir.\n\nOn September 22, it was widely reported that Tahir was killed in the strike.\n\nThe Extortion 17 incident represents the largest single-incident loss of lives during the War in Afghanistan.\n\nPhotos:\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-bessent-protect-critical-infrastructure-from-cyberattacks", "Cotton to Bessent: Protect Critical Infrastructure from Cyberattacks", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nAugust 5, 2026\n\nCotton to Bessent: Protect Critical Infrastructure from Cyberattacks\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking him to ensure federal tax guidance encourages investment in and modernization of American operational technology, which is the hardware and software that controls critical infrastructure. This technology is underfunded and outdated, leaving vital infrastructure like water systems, power facilities, and industrial plants, particularly in rural states like Arkansas, vulnerable to cyberattacks by our adversaries.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cAttacks on civilian infrastructure have become a routine instrument of modern warfare, and American operational technology is a target. I write concerning federal tax guidance that discourages the investment needed to defend it.\n\nOperational technology is the hardware and software that directly controls physical systems, including the sensors that regulate the chemical mix safeguarding our drinking water and the controllers running a turbine or a processing line. These controllers were invented in the 1960s and still rely on protocols designed for isolated plants, not for today\u2019s interconnected environment.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nAugust 05, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Scott Bessent\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of the Treasury\n\n1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20220\n\nDear Secretary Bessent:\n\nAttacks on civilian infrastructure have become a routine instrument of modern warfare, and American operational technology is a target. I write concerning federal tax guidance that discourages the investment needed to defend it.\n\nOperational technology is the hardware and software that directly controls physical systems, including the sensors that regulate the chemical mix safeguarding our drinking water and the controllers running a turbine or a processing line. These controllers were invented in the 1960s and still rely on protocols designed for isolated plants, not for today\u2019s interconnected environment.\n\nThe United States is already under attack. Chinese state-sponsored hackers spent nearly a year inside a New England utility and obtained its operational technology procedures and grid layout data. In April 2026, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed that Iranian actors exploited programmable logic controllers across American critical infrastructure. Most recently, a coordinated cyberattack disrupted operational technology at more than 30 community water systems in Minnesota. Preliminary assessments point to Iranian-linked hackers.\n\nThose who carry the greatest risk are least able to manage it. Arkansas has roughly 670 community water systems primarily serving small rural populations. Most cannot employ even one security engineer. With your assistance, we can make better use of existing incentives in the tax code that will strengthen our critical infrastructure. I therefore request the Department:\n\nConfirm that developing security software for industrial control systems qualifies as research under section 41. A company writing code to detect an intruder inside a water plant's controls is doing research in the ordinary sense of the word. The tax code rewards research, but it is unclear whether this research qualifies, which discourages the necessary investments in operational technology security.\n\nEstablish a safe harbor for cybersecurity service agreements with publicly owned utilities under section 7701(e). Small public systems cannot hire their own security staff and must contract with outside firms. Under current rules, these contracts can be treated as equipment leases, forcing the vendor's equipment onto a fifty-year write-off, which pushes vendors away from servicing rural areas. The Department can end this uncertainty by clarifying that cybersecurity monitoring contracts with public utilities are treated as services, not long-term equipment leases.\n\nExtend the existing utility exception in Treasury Regulation \u00a71.168(k)-2(b)(2)(ii)(F) to service providers as well as lessors. The current exception protects a company that leases security equipment to a utility, but a company that retains ownership and sells monitoring services receives no such protection, even though the work is essentially identical. The distinction steers small systems away from these arrangements.\n\nI look forward to working with you on this matter and stand ready to discuss further.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-bessent-protect-critical-infrastructure-from-cyberattacks/", "Cotton to Bessent: Protect Critical Infrastructure from Cyberattacks", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nAugust 5, 2026\n\nCotton to Bessent: Protect Critical Infrastructure from Cyberattacks\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking him to ensure federal tax guidance encourages investment in and modernization of American operational technology, which is the hardware and software that controls critical infrastructure. This technology is underfunded and outdated, leaving vital infrastructure like water systems, power facilities, and industrial plants, particularly in rural states like Arkansas, vulnerable to cyberattacks by our adversaries.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cAttacks on civilian infrastructure have become a routine instrument of modern warfare, and American operational technology is a target. I write concerning federal tax guidance that discourages the investment needed to defend it.\n\nOperational technology is the hardware and software that directly controls physical systems, including the sensors that regulate the chemical mix safeguarding our drinking water and the controllers running a turbine or a processing line. These controllers were invented in the 1960s and still rely on protocols designed for isolated plants, not for today\u2019s interconnected environment.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nAugust 05, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Scott Bessent\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of the Treasury\n\n1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20220\n\nDear Secretary Bessent:\n\nAttacks on civilian infrastructure have become a routine instrument of modern warfare, and American operational technology is a target. I write concerning federal tax guidance that discourages the investment needed to defend it.\n\nOperational technology is the hardware and software that directly controls physical systems, including the sensors that regulate the chemical mix safeguarding our drinking water and the controllers running a turbine or a processing line. These controllers were invented in the 1960s and still rely on protocols designed for isolated plants, not for today\u2019s interconnected environment.\n\nThe United States is already under attack. Chinese state-sponsored hackers spent nearly a year inside a New England utility and obtained its operational technology procedures and grid layout data. In April 2026, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed that Iranian actors exploited programmable logic controllers across American critical infrastructure. Most recently, a coordinated cyberattack disrupted operational technology at more than 30 community water systems in Minnesota. Preliminary assessments point to Iranian-linked hackers.\n\nThose who carry the greatest risk are least able to manage it. Arkansas has roughly 670 community water systems primarily serving small rural populations. Most cannot employ even one security engineer. With your assistance, we can make better use of existing incentives in the tax code that will strengthen our critical infrastructure. I therefore request the Department:\n\nConfirm that developing security software for industrial control systems qualifies as research under section 41. A company writing code to detect an intruder inside a water plant\u2019s controls is doing research in the ordinary sense of the word. The tax code rewards research, but it is unclear whether this research qualifies, which discourages the necessary investments in operational technology security.\n\nEstablish a safe harbor for cybersecurity service agreements with publicly owned utilities under section 7701(e). Small public systems cannot hire their own security staff and must contract with outside firms. Under current rules, these contracts can be treated as equipment leases, forcing the vendor\u2019s equipment onto a fifty-year write-off, which pushes vendors away from servicing rural areas. The Department can end this uncertainty by clarifying that cybersecurity monitoring contracts with public utilities are treated as services, not long-term equipment leases.\n\nExtend the existing utility exception in Treasury Regulation \u00a71.168(k)-2(b)(2)(ii)(F) to service providers as well as lessors. The current exception protects a company that leases security equipment to a utility, but a company that retains ownership and sells monitoring services receives no such protection, even though the work is essentially identical. The distinction steers small systems away from these arrangements.\n\nI look forward to working with you on this matter and stand ready to discuss further.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/floor-speech-recognizing-the-arkansas-national-guard/", "Floor Speech Recognizing the Arkansas National Guard", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "I speak today in recognition of the bravery, courage, and valor of nearly 9,000 men and women in the Arkansas National Guard. Day in and day out, the heroes of our National Guard protect our communities and our homeland, stand at the ready to respond to natural disasters, and defend our freedom around the world.\n\nTheir work is having a huge impact on many fronts. In Little Rock, our National Guardsmen recently participated in the Pentagon\u2019s largest unclassified cyber defense exercise, known as Cyber Shield, alongside more than 1,000 participants from 44 states and nearly two dozen countries.\n\nDown at the southern border, Arkansas National Guard troops are working to keep illegal aliens out of our country and stop the flow of deadly, illicit drugs into our communities. Additionally, Arkansas National Guardsmen on the home front have provided 15% of the targeting information for Operation Epic Fury, while guardsmen deployed overseas work on the ground in support of this critical mission.\n\nAnd last, but certainly not least, and most recently, the National Guardsmen stationed in Washington, D.C. as part of the President\u2019s Safe and Beautiful Mission are cleaning up our nation\u2019s capital for all Americans to enjoy. Earlier this summer, just a couple of miles from the Capitol building, Arkansas National Guardsmen intervened in a violent assault and stopped a potential shooting. While out on patrol earlier, Sergeant Memphis Perez, Specialist Edwin Martinez, Specialist Christian Diaz, and Private First Class Gabriel Oliva encountered a woman with a bloodied face, multiple groups of people yelling and arguing, and a suspect threatening to shoot a group of women.\n\nThe brave guardsmen of Team Razorback stepped into action, detained the suspect with flex cuffs after he attempted to retrieve a Glock pistol from his car, provided medical assistance to the victim, and secured the scene while waiting for the Metropolitan Police Department officers to arrive. The heroism of these men saved lives, and because of their courage, they received the Joint Service Achievement Medal.\n\nI\u2019d like to extend my gratitude and admiration to Sergeant Perez, Specialist Martinez, Specialist Diaz, and Private First Class Oliva for doing\u2014as my drill sergeant used to say\u2014the hard right over the easy wrong. You did your duty with honor and integrity in a very dangerous situation. I commend you for your brave actions and congratulate you on earning the distinguished award.\n\nOn the ground, in the air, in cyberspace, and right here in the nation\u2019s capital, Arkansas National Guardsmen are always ready, and always there. To my fellow Arkansans who have answered the call to serve in the Guard, I say thank you. Your example of selflessness, courage, and patriotism has made our country and our state proud. May God bless you, protect you, and may God bless the United States of America.", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410891", "From the Front: July 31, 2026", "2026-07-31", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: July 31, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      July 31, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-lutnick-combat-communist-chinas-ai-diffusion-strategy", "Cotton to Lutnick: Combat Communist China\u2019s AI Diffusion Strategy", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 30, 2026\n\nCotton to Lutnick: Combat Communist China\u2019s AI Diffusion Strategy\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick encouraging a proactive, coordinated, multipronged approach to combat Communist China\u2019s AI diffusion strategy and ensure lasting U.S. AI dominance, both domestically and globally. The letter follows recent concerns about increased American reliance on Chinese AI models.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cI write to you concerned about American companies increasingly relying on Chinese AI models. While the U.S. is the leader in the most cutting edge, closed models, recent progress in Chinese AI models highlights alarming gaps. To stay ahead in the AI race, the U.S. must fully capture AI\u2019s economic and geopolitical returns, while continuing to create the most advanced frontier models. This means ensuring that as many U.S. firms, researchers, and institutions as possible are able to leverage AI for productivity and scientific gains. It also means ensuring that global customers adopt and build on our models, where we can set standards, norms, and dependencies.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJuly 29, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Howard Lutnick\n\nSecretary of Commerce\n\nDepartment of Commerce\n\n1401 Constitution Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20230\n\nDear Secretary Lutnick,\n\nI write to you concerned about American companies increasingly relying on Chinese AI models. While the U.S. is the leader in the most cutting edge, closed models, recent progress in Chinese AI models highlights alarming gaps. To stay ahead in the AI race, the U.S. must fully capture AI\u2019s economic and geopolitical returns, while continuing to create the most advanced frontier models. This means ensuring that as many U.S. firms, researchers, and institutions as possible are able to leverage AI for productivity and scientific gains. It also means ensuring that global customers adopt and build on our models, where we can set standards, norms, and dependencies.\n\nCommunist China is pursuing an aggressive AI diffusion strategy, and Chinese open weight models have become dominant players in the AI space. Foreign and domestic customers seeking cost savings and more flexibility are increasingly moving to Chinese models as a \u201cgood enough\u201d alternative to proprietary U.S. models. One report estimates that nearly 80% of U.S. startups build applications on Chinese models. Larger U.S. companies are following suit, with applications such as Airbnb\u2019s Qwen-powered chatbot and Cursor\u2019s Kimi-based coding agent. The latter is especially concerning, as defense primes use Cursor\u2019s coding tools to build software for the Department of War (DOW), even though Chinese models generate lower quality, more vulnerable code when the user is American. Microsoft, one of the largest federal IT vendors, is also considering DeepSeek as an alternative for its Copilot Cowork. Backdoors may be embedded into open weight Chinese models, and auditing produces limited assurances. American companies, particularly those that do business with the U.S. government, should never jeopardize our security for higher profits.\n\nI encourage you to pursue a proactive strategy to address these issues, with a coordinated, multi-pronged approach. First, we should continue to deny Communist China the frontier and limit its ability to serve customers on a global scale by enacting and enforcing strict export controls on advanced compute and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Second, I would urge that we guard against deepening dependence on Chinese AI models. DOW already bars agency and contractor use of DeepSeek, and other Federal agencies have also blocked access internally. I propose we extend these prohibitions to additional Chinese models and enact a government-wide ban on contractor use. American businesses must understand that the U.S. government will not accept the risks of Chinese AI, and such a prohibition also sends an unmistakable demand signal for American alternatives. Finally, I recommend that we actively nurture an open AI ecosystem in the U.S. to rival Communist China\u2019s. Customers at home and abroad will prefer an American option, and that is how we can take the lead in global AI diffusion.\n\nAmerica wins the AI race when we offer models that provide optionality, from the state-of-the-art frontier for high-assurance, mission-critical applications in defense, critical infrastructure, and advanced scientific research, to cheaper, more efficient models for various commercial and consumer workloads where price may be more important than raw capability. I commend the administration\u2019s current efforts and believe that if you take prompt action, America can keep the frontier advantage and unleash a diffusion strategy that ensures U.S. AI dominance, both domestically and globally.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-lutnick-combat-communist-chinas-ai-diffusion-strategy/", "Cotton to Lutnick: Combat Communist China\u2019s AI Diffusion Strategy", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 30, 2026\n\nCotton to Lutnick: Combat Communist China\u2019s AI Diffusion Strategy\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick encouraging a proactive, coordinated, multipronged approach to combat Communist China\u2019s AI diffusion strategy and ensure lasting U.S. AI dominance, both domestically and globally. The letter follows recent concerns about increased American reliance on Chinese AI models.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cI write to you concerned about American companies increasingly relying on Chinese AI models. While the U.S. is the leader in the most cutting edge, closed models, recent progress in Chinese AI models highlights alarming gaps. To stay ahead in the AI race, the U.S. must fully capture AI\u2019s economic and geopolitical returns, while continuing to create the most advanced frontier models. This means ensuring that as many U.S. firms, researchers, and institutions as possible are able to leverage AI for productivity and scientific gains. It also means ensuring that global customers adopt and build on our models, where we can set standards, norms, and dependencies.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJuly 29, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Howard Lutnick\n\nSecretary of Commerce\n\nDepartment of Commerce\n\n1401 Constitution Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20230\n\nDear Secretary Lutnick,\n\nI write to you concerned about American companies increasingly relying on Chinese AI models. While the U.S. is the leader in the most cutting edge, closed models, recent progress in Chinese AI models highlights alarming gaps. To stay ahead in the AI race, the U.S. must fully capture AI\u2019s economic and geopolitical returns, while continuing to create the most advanced frontier models. This means ensuring that as many U.S. firms, researchers, and institutions as possible are able to leverage AI for productivity and scientific gains. It also means ensuring that global customers adopt and build on our models, where we can set standards, norms, and dependencies.\n\nCommunist China is pursuing an aggressive AI diffusion strategy, and Chinese open weight models have become dominant players in the AI space. Foreign and domestic customers seeking cost savings and more flexibility are increasingly moving to Chinese models as a \u201cgood enough\u201d alternative to proprietary U.S. models. One report estimates that nearly 80% of U.S. startups build applications on Chinese models. Larger U.S. companies are following suit, with applications such as Airbnb\u2019s Qwen-powered chatbot and Cursor\u2019s Kimi-based coding agent. The latter is especially concerning, as defense primes use Cursor\u2019s coding tools to build software for the Department of War (DOW), even though Chinese models generate lower quality, more vulnerable code when the user is American. Microsoft, one of the largest federal IT vendors, is also considering DeepSeek as an alternative for its Copilot Cowork. Backdoors may be embedded into open weight Chinese models, and auditing produces limited assurances. American companies, particularly those that do business with the U.S. government, should never jeopardize our security for higher profits.\n\nI encourage you to pursue a proactive strategy to address these issues, with a coordinated, multi-pronged approach. First, we should continue to deny Communist China the frontier and limit its ability to serve customers on a global scale by enacting and enforcing strict export controls on advanced compute and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Second, I would urge that we guard against deepening dependence on Chinese AI models. DOW already bars agency and contractor use of DeepSeek, and other Federal agencies have also blocked access internally. I propose we extend these prohibitions to additional Chinese models and enact a government-wide ban on contractor use. American businesses must understand that the U.S. government will not accept the risks of Chinese AI, and such a prohibition also sends an unmistakable demand signal for American alternatives. Finally, I recommend that we actively nurture an open AI ecosystem in the U.S. to rival Communist China\u2019s. Customers at home and abroad will prefer an American option, and that is how we can take the lead in global AI diffusion.\n\nAmerica wins the AI race when we offer models that provide optionality, from the state-of-the-art frontier for high-assurance, mission-critical applications in defense, critical infrastructure, and advanced scientific research, to cheaper, more efficient models for various commercial and consumer workloads where price may be more important than raw capability. I commend the administration\u2019s current efforts and believe that if you take prompt action, America can keep the frontier advantage and unleash a diffusion strategy that ensures U.S. AI dominance, both domestically and globally.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-jay-claytons-confirmation-as-director-of-national-intelligence", "Cotton Statement on Jay Clayton\u2019s Confirmation as Director of National Intelligence", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 28, 2026\n\nCotton Statement on Jay Clayton\u2019s Confirmation as Director of National Intelligence\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement after Walter \u201cJay\u201d Clayton III was confirmed by the Senate as Director of National Intelligence:\n\n\u201cJay Clayton is a highly qualified nominee with a deep experience combatting a wide range of national security threats. As U.S. attorney, Mr. Clayton has worked hand in glove with our intelligence agencies and counterterrorism personnel to lock up criminals who threaten our national security. I\u2019m pleased that my colleagues voted to confirm Mr. Clayton as Director of National Intelligence and look forward to working with him to keep Americans safe.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-jay-claytons-confirmation-as-director-of-national-intelligence/", "Cotton Statement on Jay Clayton\u2019s Confirmation as Director of National Intelligence", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 28, 2026\n\nCotton Statement on Jay Clayton\u2019s Confirmation as Director of National Intelligence\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement after Walter \u201cJay\u201d Clayton III was confirmed by the Senate as Director of National Intelligence:\n\n\u201cJay Clayton is a highly qualified nominee with a deep experience combatting a wide range of national security threats. As U.S. attorney, Mr. Clayton has worked hand in glove with our intelligence agencies and counterterrorism personnel to lock up criminals who threaten our national security. I\u2019m pleased that my colleagues voted to confirm Mr. Clayton as Director of National Intelligence and look forward to working with him to keep Americans safe.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/floor-speech-on-jay-claytons-nomination-to-be-director-of-national-intelligence/", "Floor Speech on Jay Clayton\u2019s Nomination to be Director of National Intelligence", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "Mr. President, I speak today in support of Mr. Jay Clayton\u2019s nomination to be the next Director of National Intelligence.\n\nEarlier this month, Mr. Clayton appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where he answered hundreds of written questions for the record and provided detailed testimony on his approach to serving in this new role. As part of these discussions, Mr. Clayton assured the committee he would assist our efforts to return the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to its original size, scope, and mission. He also pledged to work with the committee to secure the essential funding the Intelligence Community needs. Based on the shortcomings my committee staff has identified, I project that any supplemental appropriations or reconciliation bill must include around forty billion dollars for our intelligence agencies. I look forward to working with Mr. Clayton to meet this vital need.\n\nGiven his past professional experience, Mr. Clayton is well qualified to serve as the Director of National Intelligence. As the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Mr. Clayton went after some of the worst of the worst national security threats. He\u2019s overseen numerous high-profile cases, including the indictment of Venezuelan dictator Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and the prosecution of an Iran-backed terrorist connected to multiple attempted terror attacks in the United States. Time and again, Mr. Clayton has worked hand in glove with our intelligence agencies and counterterrorism personnel to put these savages behind bars and keep America safe.\n\nBased on Mr. Clayton\u2019s testimony and the many conversations I\u2019ve had with him over the last few months, I can say with confidence that his reputation for leading with integrity precedes him. I\u2019m pleased to support his nomination, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of his confirmation.\n\nMr. President, I yield the floor.", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-mcmahon-investigate-chinese-investments-in-american-universities", "Cotton to McMahon: Investigate Chinese Investments in American Universities", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 27, 2026\n\nCotton to McMahon: Investigate Chinese Investments in American Universities\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon encouraging additional scrutiny of Chinese investments in American universities which allow Communist China to advance their interests while undermining American innovation and national security.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cI commend the Department of Education\u2019s work to improve transparency, which includes actions against universities that have failed to comply with statutory financial reporting requirements. Federally funded universities are not required to disclose transactions from a single foreign source that are less than $250,000 in a single year. I remain concerned that millions in additional transactions with sanctioned Chinese entities may not have been reported.\n\nTherefore, I encourage additional scrutiny of financial ties between American universities and Communist China.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJuly 27, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Linda McMahon\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Education\n\n400 Maryland Ave, SW\n\nWashington, DC 20202\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nI write to express concern about sanctioned Chinese entities investments in American universities. These investments allow China to advance their interests, while undermining American innovation and our national security.\n\nOn January 2, 2026, the Department of Education launched an online portal which provides aggregate, institution-level data about donations American universities have received from foreign sources. As of January 31, 2026, federally funded universities accepted more than $6.8 billion from Communist China \u2013 including more than $300 million from sanctioned entities. Harvard, for instance, has received more than $630 million from Chinese entities. This includes roughly $418,000 from organizations participating in foreign talent programs and nearly $420,000 from entities allegedly supporting unauthorized military advancements.\n\nI commend the Department of Education\u2019s work to improve transparency, which includes actions against universities that have failed to comply with statutory financial reporting requirements. Federally funded universities are not required to disclose transactions from a single foreign source that are less than $250,000 in a single year. I remain concerned that millions in additional transactions with sanctioned Chinese entities may not have been reported.\n\nTherefore, I encourage additional scrutiny of financial ties between American universities and Communist China.\n\nI look forward to working with you on this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-28T07:37:32Z", "2026-07-28T07:38:50Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-mcmahon-investigate-chinese-investments-in-american-universities/", "Cotton to McMahon: Investigate Chinese Investments in American Universities", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 27, 2026\n\nCotton to McMahon: Investigate Chinese Investments in American Universities\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon encouraging additional scrutiny of Chinese investments in American universities which allow Communist China to advance their interests while undermining American innovation and national security.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cI commend the Department of Education\u2019s work to improve transparency, which includes actions against universities that have failed to comply with statutory financial reporting requirements. Federally funded universities are not required to disclose transactions from a single foreign source that are less than $250,000 in a single year. I remain concerned that millions in additional transactions with sanctioned Chinese entities may not have been reported.\n\nTherefore, I encourage additional scrutiny of financial ties between American universities and Communist China.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJuly 27, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Linda McMahon\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Education\n\n400 Maryland Ave, SW\n\nWashington, DC 20202\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nI write to express concern about sanctioned Chinese entities investments in American universities. These investments allow China to advance their interests, while undermining American innovation and our national security.\n\nOn January 2, 2026, the Department of Education launched an online portal which provides aggregate, institution-level data about donations American universities have received from foreign sources. As of January 31, 2026, federally funded universities accepted more than $6.8 billion from Communist China \u2013 including more than $300 million from sanctioned entities. Harvard, for instance, has received more than $630 million from Chinese entities. This includes roughly $418,000 from organizations participating in foreign talent programs and nearly $420,000 from entities allegedly supporting unauthorized military advancements.\n\nI commend the Department of Education\u2019s work to improve transparency, which includes actions against universities that have failed to comply with statutory financial reporting requirements. Federally funded universities are not required to disclose transactions from a single foreign source that are less than $250,000 in a single year. I remain concerned that millions in additional transactions with sanctioned Chinese entities may not have been reported.\n\nTherefore, I encourage additional scrutiny of financial ties between American universities and Communist China.\n\nI look forward to working with you on this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410890", "From the Front: July 24, 2026", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: July 24, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      July 24, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-close-tax-loopholes-exploited-by-far-left-terrorist-organizations", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Close Tax Loopholes Exploited by Far-Left Terrorist Organizations", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 23, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Close Tax Loopholes Exploited by Far-Left Terrorist Organizations\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) introduced legislation to eliminate tax loopholes exploited by far-left terrorist organizations. Under current law, a charity can collect tax-deductible donations and hand the money to a group that isn\u2019t a charity at all, which allows far-left radical groups\u2014like the Palestinian Youth Movement\u2014to manipulate the U.S. tax code. The Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act would force charities to report these arrangements and impose a steep tax when they blindly pass money along without any oversight to how it\u2019s spent.\n\nRepresentative Lloyd Smucker (Pennsylvania-11) introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\n\u201cFar-left terrorist organizations shouldn\u2019t be able to manipulate our tax code for their advantage. My bill would require public disclosure of these activities, tax the charities that don\u2019t control where their money is spent, and end tax write-offs for donors who bankroll these unchecked arrangements,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act would:\n\nMandate Form 990 disclosure of fiscal sponsorship arrangements.\n\nImpose an excise tax on improper conduit arrangements.\n\nDeny the charitable deduction for conduit contributions.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/crawford-delivers-major-national-security-and-eod-wins-as-house-passes-ndaa", "Crawford Delivers Major National Security and EOD Wins as House Passes NDAA", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On Wednesday, Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., voted in favor of H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027, which passed through the House of Representatives.\n\nThe bill strengthens America\u2019s defense industrial base, enhances global deterrence, and supports service members and their families. The final House package includes four amendments authored by Rep. Crawford that bolster Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) capabilities and homeland defense.\n\n\"This year\u2019s NDAA represents a strong step toward restoring American military strength,\" said Rep. Crawford. \"Rebuilding our munitions stockpiles, securing supply chains, and investing in new technologies ensures our military remains the most lethal force in the world. My amendments will better support our EOD technicians and improve our missile and drone defenses.\"\n\nHighlights of the NDAA:\n\nSupports Service Members: Provides a 5-7% pay raise for service members along with targeted retention bonuses and special pay.\n\nQuality of Life Improvements: Modernizes barracks and military family housing with over $1.8 billion in investments.\n\nRebuilds the Munitions Arsenal: Authorizes $39 billion in funding to grow munitions inventories, including Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles, Javelins, Stingers, and Tomahawks.\n\nSecures Supply Chains: Expands domestic manufacturing and develops a skilled American workforce to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries.\n\nGlobal Deterrence: Funds technologies including autonomous systems, hypersonics, and artificial intelligence while maintaining counterterrorism pressure against adversaries.\n\nRep. Crawford\u2019s Amendments Included in H.R. 8800:\n\nEOD Incentive Pay: Establishes an incentive pay schedule for EOD technicians to properly compensate them for their exceptionally hazardous missions.\n\nEOD to Law Enforcement Transition Program: Creates a fast-track pipeline for honorably discharged EOD personnel to enter Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers and transition into special agent roles.\n\nNational Guard Homeland Defense Pilot Program: Establishes a pilot program enhancing Guard EOD units\u2019 capabilities to respond to missile or drone attacks on the homeland.\n\nOffice of Bombing Prevention Realignment: Relocates the Department of Homeland Security Office of Bombing Prevention to the Office of Intelligence and Analysis to improve intelligence integration and training.\n\nThe bill will now move to the Senate for consideration.", 1, "2026-08-10T06:13:07Z", "2026-08-10T06:14:46Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-close-tax-loopholes-exploited-by-far-left-terrorist-organizations/", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Close Tax Loopholes Exploited by Far-Left Terrorist Organizations", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 23, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Close Tax Loopholes Exploited by Far-Left Terrorist Organizations\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) introduced legislation to eliminate tax loopholes exploited by far-left terrorist organizations. Under current law, a charity can collect tax-deductible donations and hand the money to a group that isn\u2019t a charity at all, which allows far-left radical groups\u2014like the Palestinian Youth Movement\u2014to manipulate the U.S. tax code. The Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act would force charities to report these arrangements and impose a steep tax when they blindly pass money along without any oversight to how it\u2019s spent.\n\nRepresentative Lloyd Smucker (Pennsylvania-11) introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\n\u201cFar-left terrorist organizations shouldn\u2019t be able to manipulate our tax code for their advantage. My bill would require public disclosure of these activities, tax the charities that don\u2019t control where their money is spent, and end tax write-offs for donors who bankroll these unchecked arrangements,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act would:\n\nMandate Form 990 disclosure of fiscal sponsorship arrangements.\n\nImpose an excise tax on improper conduit arrangements.\n\nDeny the charitable deduction for conduit contributions.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10266", "RELEASE:\u00a0HOUSE PASSES HILL'S\u00a0MAIN STREET CAPITAL ACCESS ACT", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed H.R. 6955, Rep. French Hill's (AR-02) Main Street Capital Access Act, by a vote of 270-155-1. As Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Hill led the effort to pass the bill alongside Financial Institutions Subcommittee Chairman Andy Barr (KY-06). The bipartisan bill revitalizes local bank formation and ensures community lenders can focus on serving families, small businesses, and local economies, making life more affordable for Americans and empowering Main Street.\n\nRep. Hill said, \u201cAs a former community banker in central Arkansas, I know how important our Main Street banks are to our local economy. From growing cities like Conway to our smallest rural towns, community banks drive economic growth. Whether a young couple wants to open a coffee shop in downtown Little Rock, a local manufacturer is looking to expand in Jacksonville, or a farmer in White County needs a loan for a new combine, it's our local banks that step up.\n\n\u201cYet for decades, Washington has forced these local banks to operate under rules written for the nation's largest institutions, stifling local lending, accelerating industry consolidation, and making big banks even bigger. This bill fixes that. It right-sizes regulations for our community banks, freeing them up to lend so entrepreneurs can invest, businesses can grow, and families can build wealth. It will spur new bank formation, increase competition, remove barriers to lending, and benefit communities from coast to coast.\"\n\nWatch Chairman Hill's floor remarks here.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\nClick here for a section-by-section.\n\nClick here for a one-pager.\n\nFurther Background:", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10267", "RELEASE:\u00a0HILL VOTES TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA'S MILITARY READINESS", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) voted for H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027, which passed the House by a vote of 216-212. The bipartisan bill supports our military personnel and families, strengthens our national defense, modernizes our military capabilities, and includes four amendments introduced by or cosponsored by Rep. Hill, three of which will directly benefit the Arkansas National Guard.\n\nRep. Hill said, \u201cIt is critical that Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran have no doubt about the lethality of the United States military or our ability to project power anywhere in the world. This NDAA advances peace through strength by restocking critical munitions, strengthening defense supply chains, and accelerating weapons production. It also raises pay for the men and women who wear the uniform and invests in the technologies that will define tomorrow's battlefield. It redirects billions from lower-priority spending to our warfighting mission and eliminates distractions that have nothing to do with winning wars. This bill ensures our military has what it needs to deter our adversaries and defend American interests around the globe.\n\n\u201cI am also proud that several of my priorities were included in this year\u2019s NDAA to support our Guardsmen in central Arkansas.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nH.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, authorizes $1.15 trillion in national defense discretionary spending. The bill revitalizes the defense industrial base, revives the organic industrial base, provides the certainty industry needs to expand capacity, and grows and develops the defense industrial workforce. It advances small business participation in the defense industrial base, secures our supply chains, furthers acquisition reform, and improves collaboration on data rights. The legislation also raises pay for all servicemembers by 5 to 7 percent and improves housing, education, and childcare access for military families.\n\nRep. Hill\u2019s Amendments and Priorities:", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410885", "Womack on Appropriations Hearing: Americans Deserve a Functioning Government", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 July 22, 2026\u2026Today, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3), a senior appropriator and Chairman of the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies Subcommittee, stressed the need for policy reform to prevent future government funding lapses during a full committee hearing.\n\nThe hearing witnesses were Senator James Lankford (OK), Representative Tom McClintock (CA-5), as well as former Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and current New York University School of Law Distinguished Scholar Shalanda Young.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cGovernment shutdowns reflect a complete failure of Congress to do our primary job: fund the government according to the needs and wants of the American people. Accepting these failures as the status quo is impermissible, and I am grateful for the leadership of Chairman Tom Cole to examine the stumbling blocks that contribute to our system\u2019s breakdown and potential solutions. Americans deserve a functioning government, and today\u2019s hearing represents our commitment to delivering this and reliable access to the essential services it provides.\u201d\n\nDuring the hearing, Congressman Womack asked Young to outline the benefits of moving Congress to a biennial budget framework\u2014a key pillar of his newly introduced bill, the Budgeting for a Better America Act. Her response: \"You were in my opening remarks as one of the proposals. I've always thought that was just commonsense.\"\n\nRead more about the Budgeting for a Better America Act HERE.\n\nA video of Congressman Womack\u2019s questions for the witnesses can be found HERE.\n\nA full recording of the hearing is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410886", "Womack Votes for Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 July 22, 2026\u2026Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today voted in support of H.R. 8800, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cPeace through Strength requires us to address supply chain vulnerabilities, strengthen competition and innovation across the defense industry, and provide manufacturers with the certainty needed to replenish our arsenal. The Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act is instrumental in advancing these goals by implementing critical reforms to enable our defense industrial base to produce at speed and scale. I look forward to building on the authorities established in this bill through the defense appropriations process to ensure our warfighters are equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow and the decades ahead.\u201d\n\nBill highlights:\n\nStrengthens Arkansas defense equities by:\n\nIncluding Congressman Womack\u2019s amendment to direct the Department of War (DoW) to conduct and publish an analysis evaluating the full life-cycle costs of F-35 basing options for aircraft delivered between FY30-FY35.\n\nAuthorizing the Secretary of the Army to conduct a no-cost land exchange between the Arkansas National Guard (ARNG) and the U.S. Army Reserve to provide the ARNG with a new Joint Force Headquarters building.\n\nExtending a 2024 project authorization for a 3-bay maintenance hangar at Ebbing Air National Guard Base to support the force beddown of F-35 aircraft.\n\nStrengthens readiness and efficiency by:\n\nIncreasing end-strength across the DoW to support national security priorities, homeland security, and disaster response.\n\nAuthorizing multi-year procurement authority for certain munitions, the F-35 aircraft, and F-15EX aircraft, and constrains the retirement of legacy aircraft like the E-3 and MQ-9 before replacements are ready.\n\nAuthorizing the establishment of Joint Task Force Audit to support achieving an unmodified financial statement audit opinion by 2028.\n\nRevitalizes the defense industrial base by:\n\nProviding the capital needed to expand and accelerate production by providing multiyear procurement authority for critical systems, munitions, and components, including those for F-35 Aircraft and spares.\n\nInvesting in research, development, testing, and evaluation of innovative technologies, including autonomous capabilities, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and advanced materials.\n\nImproves servicemember quality of life by:\n\nAuthorizing appropriators to increase servicemember pay by 5 to 7 percent.\n\nAuthorizing over $1.8 billion for new construction of barracks and family housing.\n\nExpanding eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA), an initiative closely related to Congressman Womack\u2019s BNA Fairness Act of 2025.\n\nImproving DoW school assistance, increasing access to childcare, and authorizing programs to recruit and train military spouses to teach in DoW schools.\n\nExpanding access to healthcare by developing further dental and women\u2019s health care at Military Treatment Facilities.\n\nA summary of the bill is available HERE.\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###\n\nRelated News\n\nWomack Votes to Bolster Defense and Election Security\n\nJuly 22, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nWomack Votes to Pass Amended Full-Year Spending Package\n\nFebruary 3, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nWomack Votes for Full-Year Spending Package to Fund Departments of State, Treasury, and More\n\nJanuary 14, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nWomack Votes to Pass Final FY26 NDAA, Raising Pay for Troops and Bolstering National Security\n\nDecember 10, 2025 | Posted in Press Releases", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410887", "Womack Votes to Prevent Insider Trading and Election Fraud", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 July 22, 2026\u2026Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today voted in support of H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act. This legislation aims to prevent Members of Congress from using their positions and nonpublic information to benefit financially from purchases or sales made on the U.S. stock market. The legislation also includes measures to strengthen voter ID laws nationwide.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cOur government is built on a foundation of mutual trust. Americans should be able to trust that their elected officials in Congress have their constituents\u2019 best interests at heart\u2014not their own bank accounts. Likewise, citizens should be able to trust that their government conducts free and fair elections. The Stop Insider Trading Act strengthens that trust with guardrails that improve transparency, accountability, and integrity in government.\u201d\n\nBill highlights:\n\nPrevents insider trading in Congress by:\n\nRequiring Members of Congress, as well as their spouses and dependents to report most purchases or sales of a stock between 7-14 days prior to the sale or purchase.\n\nProtects election integrity by:\n\nRequiring a potential voter to present a valid photo I.D., such as\u2014but not limited to\u2014a driver\u2019s license, to vote in person.\n\nRequiring a potential voter to submit a copy of a valid photo I.D., such as\u2014but not limited to\u2014a driver\u2019s license, to vote by mail.\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410888", "Womack Votes to Bolster Defense and Election Security", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 July 22, 2026\u2026 Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today voted in support of H. Con. Res. 113. This budget resolution instructs relevant House committees to provide $95 billion for defense and intelligence capabilities, aid for farmers, and election security.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cSecuring our elections and supplying the Department of War with the resources necessary to protect the homeland, counter emerging threats, and win conflicts is a critical undertaking. While the appropriations process is the ideally-suited mechanism to provide funding for federal agencies, the current political landscape in which Congress operates is not ideal. We must pursue all viable paths to provide for our Common Defense and ensure election integrity because not doing so threatens the national security of the United States.\u201d\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410884", "Womack Votes to Prevent Threat of Shutdown, Continue Work on Full-Year Funding Priorities", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 July 21, 2026\u2026Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today voted in support of H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027. This continuing resolution would fund the federal government at Fiscal Year 2026 levels through December 4, 2026.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cThe end of the fiscal year is approaching fast, and while the House has made sizable progress in approving funding bills for the next year, the upper chamber has not. A continuing resolution is not the optimal choice, but it is a practical strategy to avoid a costly funding lapse. I look forward to continuing the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations process while simultaneously preventing the American public from experiencing yet another government shutdown and the negative, reverberating consequences that come with it.\u201d\n\nCongressman Womack\u2019s floor remarks are available HERE.\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-pulte-chinese-investment-in-brazil-agriculture-threatens-arkansas-farmers", "Cotton to Pulte: Chinese Investment in Brazil Agriculture Threatens Arkansas Farmers", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 21, 2026\n\nCotton to Pulte: Chinese Investment in Brazil Agriculture Threatens Arkansas Farmers\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter to Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte requesting an update on Chinese investments in Brazil\u2019s agriculture sector. Communist China\u2019s investment in global agriculture attempts to bypass the American supply chain, threatening Arkansas farmers and food security.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cChina\u2019s growing footprint in global agriculture is a deliberate, strategic effort to dominate food production and supply chains in ways that threatens American farmers and food security. Chinese state-backed money is remaking the hemisphere\u2019s ports and reshaping grain routes to Asia. For states like Arkansas, where agriculture is the number one industry, the consequences are real. Chinese state owned companies now have direct access to Brazilian farmers, purchasing their soybeans and overseeing the entire commercialization chain, including storage and transport to China, effectively locking in a supply chain that bypasses American producers entirely.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJuly 20, 2026\n\nThe Honorable William Pulte\n\nActing Director of National Intelligence\n\nOffice of the Director of National Intelligence\n\n1500 Tysons McLean Dr.\n\nMcLean, VA 22102\n\nDear Acting Director Pulte:\n\nI write regarding the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) assessment and report on Chinese investments in Brazil\u2019s agriculture sector.\n\nPresident Trump signed the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2026 into law on December 18, 2025. This legislation required the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of State and Secretary of Agriculture, to assess the extent of Chinese investment in Brazil's agricultural sector no later than 60 days after enactment. It also required ODNI to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees no later than 90 days after enactment. This assessment was due February 16, 2026, and the report was due to Congress by March 18, 2026.\n\nChina\u2019s growing footprint in global agriculture is a deliberate, strategic effort to dominate food production and supply chains in ways that threatens American farmers and food security. Chinese state-backed money is remaking the hemisphere\u2019s ports and reshaping grain routes to Asia. For states like Arkansas, where agriculture is the number one industry, the consequences are real. Chinese state owned companies now have direct access to Brazilian farmers, purchasing their soybeans and overseeing the entire commercialization chain, including storage and transport to China, effectively locking in a supply chain that bypasses American producers entirely.\n\nBrazil's climate compounds the threat. A second annual corn crop, planted right after soybean harvest, lets Brazilian farmers spread land and equipment costs across two harvests instead of one. This allows Brazil to undercut U.S. prices, giving China an increasingly attractive alternative to American grain. As American farmers continue to face rising input costs, volatile markets, and increasing competition from foreign-subsidized agriculture, understanding the full scope of Chinese investment in Brazil's agricultural sector is vital to Arkansas farmers.\n\nI therefore request an update on the status of this assessment and report.\n\nI look forward to working together to ensure this critical report reaches Congress without further delay.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-intelligence-committee-advances-clayton-nomination", "Senate Intelligence Committee Advances Clayton Nomination", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 21, 2026\n\nSenate Intelligence Committee Advances Clayton Nomination\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement after the committee voted 9-8 to report with a favorable recommendation Walter \u201cJay\u201d Clayton III\u2019s nomination to be Director of National Intelligence:\n\n\u201cJay Clayton is a highly qualified nominee with a deep experience combatting a wide range of national security threats. I\u2019m pleased that the Senate Intelligence Committee voted to advance his nomination to be Director of National Intelligence. Once confirmed, I look forward to working with Mr. Clayton to keep Americans safe and continue reforming the Office of Director of National Intelligence.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-pulte-chinese-investment-in-brazil-agriculture-threatens-arkansas-farmers/", "Cotton to Pulte: Chinese Investment in Brazil Agriculture Threatens Arkansas Farmers", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 21, 2026\n\nCotton to Pulte: Chinese Investment in Brazil Agriculture Threatens Arkansas Farmers\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter to Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte requesting an update on Chinese investments in Brazil\u2019s agriculture sector. Communist China\u2019s investment in global agriculture attempts to bypass the American supply chain, threatening Arkansas farmers and food security.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cChina\u2019s growing footprint in global agriculture is a deliberate, strategic effort to dominate food production and supply chains in ways that threatens American farmers and food security. Chinese state-backed money is remaking the hemisphere\u2019s ports and reshaping grain routes to Asia. For states like Arkansas, where agriculture is the number one industry, the consequences are real. Chinese state owned companies now have direct access to Brazilian farmers, purchasing their soybeans and overseeing the entire commercialization chain, including storage and transport to China, effectively locking in a supply chain that bypasses American producers entirely.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJuly 20, 2026\n\nThe Honorable William Pulte\n\nActing Director of National Intelligence\n\nOffice of the Director of National Intelligence\n\n1500 Tysons McLean Dr.\n\nMcLean, VA 22102\n\nDear Acting Director Pulte:\n\nI write regarding the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) assessment and report on Chinese investments in Brazil\u2019s agriculture sector.\n\nPresident Trump signed the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2026 into law on December 18, 2025. This legislation required the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of State and Secretary of Agriculture, to assess the extent of Chinese investment in Brazil\u2019s agricultural sector no later than 60 days after enactment. It also required ODNI to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees no later than 90 days after enactment. This assessment was due February 16, 2026, and the report was due to Congress by March 18, 2026.\n\nChina\u2019s growing footprint in global agriculture is a deliberate, strategic effort to dominate food production and supply chains in ways that threatens American farmers and food security. Chinese state-backed money is remaking the hemisphere\u2019s ports and reshaping grain routes to Asia. For states like Arkansas, where agriculture is the number one industry, the consequences are real. Chinese state owned companies now have direct access to Brazilian farmers, purchasing their soybeans and overseeing the entire commercialization chain, including storage and transport to China, effectively locking in a supply chain that bypasses American producers entirely.\n\nBrazil\u2019s climate compounds the threat. A second annual corn crop, planted right after soybean harvest, lets Brazilian farmers spread land and equipment costs across two harvests instead of one. This allows Brazil to undercut U.S. prices, giving China an increasingly attractive alternative to American grain. As American farmers continue to face rising input costs, volatile markets, and increasing competition from foreign-subsidized agriculture, understanding the full scope of Chinese investment in Brazil\u2019s agricultural sector is vital to Arkansas farmers.\n\nI therefore request an update on the status of this assessment and report.\n\nI look forward to working together to ensure this critical report reaches Congress without further delay.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-intelligence-committee-advances-clayton-nomination/", "Senate Intelligence Committee Advances Clayton Nomination", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy\n\nJuly 21, 2026\n\nSenate Intelligence Committee Advances Clayton Nomination\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement after the committee voted 9-8 to report with a favorable recommendation Walter \u201cJay\u201d Clayton III\u2019s nomination to be Director of National Intelligence:\n\n\u201cJay Clayton is a highly qualified nominee with a deep experience combatting a wide range of national security threats. I\u2019m pleased that the Senate Intelligence Committee voted to advance his nomination to be Director of National Intelligence. Once confirmed, I look forward to working with Mr. Clayton to keep Americans safe and continue reforming the Office of Director of National Intelligence.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410874", "Womack Tours Francis Scott Key Bridge Rebuild Site", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "BALTIMORE, MD\u2014 July 20, 2026\u2026 Today, House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (AR-3) toured the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild site in Baltimore, Maryland, with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Senators Shelley Moore Capito (WV) and Angela Alsobrooks (MD), as well as Representatives Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Johnny Olszewski (MD-2), Glenn Ivey (MD-4), and Kweisi Mfume (MD-7).\n\nChairman Womack said, \u201cProper oversight of the American taxpayer dollars being used to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge is a responsibility I do not take lightly. This bridge is a vital artery for the movement of people and goods, and its success unlocks the full potential of commerce along our Eastern seaboard. As Chair of the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, I am committed to working with President Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore to ensure this project receives the necessary resources for a safe and efficient rebuild that will prevent a future catastrophe.\u201d\n\nGovernor Moore said, \u201cThe Francis Scott Key Bridge was a vital economic engine and our commitment to rebuilding it is crucial to the continued prosperity of our nation. Together with our federal and regional partners, we will rebuild this bridge as quickly, safely, and cost efficiently as possible to ensure that this vital corridor bounces back stronger for generations to come.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nOn March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed after a container ship lost power and struck one of the bridge\u2019s supporting piers. The incident disrupted a major freight corridor and access to the Port of Baltimore\u2014one of the nation's largest ports for automobiles, farm equipment, and construction machinery.\n\nAs THUD Chairman, Congressman Womack plays a key role in providing funding for the Department of Transportation, including the Federal Highway Administration\u2019s Emergency Relief (ER) Program. This account provides federal funding for the repair or reconstruction of highways and roads damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic failures. The rebuild of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which carries the I-695 Baltimore Beltway, is one of the projects that receives funding through the ER Program.\n\nDuring the tour, Chairman Womack observed the site's transition from critical demolition clean-up to early construction work, including the installation of vessel protection piles\u2014with piling materials supplied by AFCO Steel of Arkansas. These piles are a key structural element designed to protect the new bridge's piers from future vessel strikes.\n\nPhoto highlights:\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10259", "RELEASE: HILL VOTES TO STRENGTHEN AMERICAN DIPLOMACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ABROAD", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) voted for H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, which passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 217-209. The bill strengthens American diplomacy and national security abroad, cuts foreign aid and counters our adversaries while supporting key allies, and supports education programs abroad like the Fulbright Exchange Program.\n\nRep. Hill said, \u201cHouse Republicans are bringing sanity back to foreign spending and making sure every dollar we send abroad serves America's national security. Arkansans never asked for their hard-earned tax dollars to be spent pushing 'woke' fads like DEI programs and gender ideology experiments on our strategic partners and allies. I voted for this bill to fund the things that actually advance our best interests, our diplomatic and intelligence operations, security assistance for real allies, and programs that reflect American values like religious freedom, the fight against human trafficking, and the Fulbright Exchange program. We're also cutting off the regimes that work against America and demanding more accountability from those receiving our money. This bill respects taxpayers, advances our actual interests, and delivers the foreign policy Americans have been asking for.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nH.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, provides a total discretionary allocation of $47.32 billion, which is $2.69 billion, or 6 percent, below the FY26 enacted level. The bill champions a foreign policy agenda that supports our allies, counters our adversaries, and eliminates contributions to organizations that are wasteful and contradictory to American values. It codifies President Trump's executive orders to completely defund DEI programs, climate change mandates, and radical gender ideology programs, and maintains all long-standing pro-life provisions. It also counters the malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party by fully funding the Countering PRC Influence Fund at $400 million, denying the CCP access to U.S.-backed resources, and prohibiting countries from using U.S. aid to repay debts owed to Communist China.\n\nRep. Hill\u2019s Priorities", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:31:57Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410872", "From the Front: July 17, 2026", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: July 17, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      July 17, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-expand-employment-opportunities-for-disabled-arkansans", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Expand Employment Opportunities for Disabled Arkansans", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJuly 16, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Expand Employment Opportunities for Disabled Arkansans\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) yesterday introduced legislation to expand employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities aged 18 years or older. The Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act would enable anyone over the age of 18 to participate in a 14(c) program.\n\n14(c) programs are meant to enable employment opportunities for disabled individuals who may not otherwise be hired at full wage. The current law, passed in 2014, creates a complicated, multi-step process that is often a significant barrier to entry.\n\n\u201cHard-working Arkansans shouldn\u2019t have to jump through hoops to get a job. My bill would remove obstacles for any disabled adult to participate in the 14(c) program,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act would:\n\nPermit individuals 18 years or older to participate in 14(c) programs.\n\nEstablish that 14(c) employers can employ individuals aged 18 years and older if they document that a state agency failed to provide counseling and referrals to potential workers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-expand-employment-opportunities-for-disabled-arkansans/", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Expand Employment Opportunities for Disabled Arkansans", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJuly 16, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Expand Employment Opportunities for Disabled Arkansans\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) yesterday introduced legislation to expand employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities aged 18 years or older. The Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act would enable anyone over the age of 18 to participate in a 14(c) program.\n\n14(c) programs are meant to enable employment opportunities for disabled individuals who may not otherwise be hired at full wage. The current law, passed in 2014, creates a complicated, multi-step process that is often a significant barrier to entry.\n\n\u201cHard-working Arkansans shouldn\u2019t have to jump through hoops to get a job. My bill would remove obstacles for any disabled adult to participate in the 14(c) program,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act would:\n\nPermit individuals 18 years or older to participate in 14(c) programs.\n\nEstablish that 14(c) employers can employ individuals aged 18 years and older if they document that a state agency failed to provide counseling and referrals to potential workers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410870", "Womack Votes for Fiscal Year 2027 Funding Bill to Protect America\u2019s Interests Abroad", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 July 15, 2026\u2026Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today voted in support of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThis bill allocates $47.32 billion in discretionary spending to fund the Department of State and related agencies.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cOur national security is strongest when we invest wisely, and thanks to the leadership of my friend, Subcommittee Chairman Mario D\u00edaz-Balart, this bill does exactly that. It strategically supports our allies while ensuring American taxpayer dollars do not benefit our foreign adversaries. I am encouraged that House leadership recognizes the importance of advancing this measure swiftly\u2014not only to protect our national interests abroad, but also to restore regular order to the appropriations process.\u201d\n\nBill highlights:\n\nBolsters United States national security and protects American interests abroad by:\n\nProviding unwavering support for Israel by including $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing Program funds.\n\nProviding robust assistance for key United States partners Egypt and Jordan.\n\nIncluding $500 million in Foreign Military Financing Program funding for Taiwan and $200 million for the Philippines.\n\nFully funding the Countering PRC Influence Fund at $400 million.\n\nProviding $1.8 billion for United States national security interests in the Indo-Pacific and to counter the PRC\u2019s malign influence.\n\nDenying the Chinese Communist Party access to U.S.-backed resources.\n\nProhibiting assistance to individuals or entities that support, finance, or facilitate the operations or commercial activities of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior, or their affiliates.\n\nProhibiting funds to the Taliban.\n\nProhibiting funds for organizations who may have hired terrorists that took part in the October 7th, 2023, mass atrocities\u2013including the murder of 50 Americans since the initial attack\u2013but refuse to cooperate with United States Inspector General investigations.\n\nSupporting religious freedom programs abroad and religious freedom protections for faith-based organizations delivering foreign aid.\n\nHolding foreign governments and bad actors accountable for persecuting people of faith, including by restricting assistance to Nigeria until measurable actions are taken to protect Christian communities suffering from religious violence.\n\nConfronting human trafficking by prohibiting funding for countries and organizations that exploit Cuban doctors, while directing the Secretary of State to pull visas for officials involved in such practices.\n\nA summary of the bill is available HERE.\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-opening-statement-at-clayton-confirmation-hearing/", "Cotton Opening Statement at Clayton Confirmation Hearing", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "Good morning. This hearing will come to order. I want to welcome all of you to today\u2019s hearing on the nomination of Mr. Jay Clayton to be the Director of National Intelligence.\n\nBefore we begin, I would also like to recognize the devastating loss we suffered over the weekend, and, on behalf of this committee, pay tribute to our former colleague, Lindsey Graham. Though Lindsey didn\u2019t serve on the Intelligence Committee, as a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he was part of our extended family, and he was obviously a champion for intelligence officers just as he was for our troops. He was a true partner on issues such as FISA, FBI, and DOJ oversight. Lindsey ensured that the intelligence community had the resources to confront our adversaries. Lindsey was a true patriot who led with courage, loyalty, and relentless optimism during his time both as an airman in the Air Force and in the United States Congress. In remembrance of Senator Lindsey Graham\u2019s lifetime of service, I invite the members of this committee to honor our colleague and friend by living up to the example he set and carrying forward his love for God and for country. We also welcome his sister and new senator, Darline, whom we all had the occasion to meet yesterday and who I know will carry forward his legacy in a way that would make him immensely proud, as he always was proud of his younger sister.\n\nToday\u2019s hearing is an opportunity to consider Mr. Clayton\u2019s qualifications. So, I\u2019d like to welcome him and his wife, Gretchen, to the Senate Intelligence Committee. Mr. Clayton, thank you for once again answering the call to public service. To your family and loved ones, including those watching from home, thank you for your support during this process. I want to state for the record that Mr. Clayton has provided answers to our standard, 40-page committee questionnaire; he has answered in writing more than 200 advance questions for the record as well; he has completed his FBI background investigation; he has met with most members of this committee; and he has provided more than five years of tax returns. This is no small feat, but was helped, in large part, by the fact that this was his third time through the process. I want to thank all of those persons and organizations who worked to move his nomination at very fast speeds; that includes our committee staff, the staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, the Office of Government Ethics, and the White House counsel\u2019s office.\n\nI\u2019d also like to offer my prayers to outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard\u2019s husband, Abraham, as he battles cancer, and thank Ms. Gabbard for her efforts to streamline the ODNI as she turns understandably to her husband\u2019s care. This committee is grateful for her decades of service to the country, both in uniform and as a civilian.\n\nI\u2019d also want to take a moment to thank Bill Pulte for his leadership to date as Acting Director of National Intelligence. The additional steps he\u2019s taken to right-size the office of the DNI will help Mr. Clayton be successful on day one of assuming this position. Mr. Pulte has been highly communicative and engaged with me and my staff throughout his tenure, for which I am grateful.\n\nMr. Clayton, it is my understanding that you intend to finish Ms. Gabbard\u2019s work to return ODNI to its original size, scope, and mission. I have long said that the right number of staff at ODNI would number in the dozens, maybe a couple hundred at maximum, but certainly not the thousands of recent years. Congress intended ODNI to be a lean and efficient organization to keep bureaucratic intelligence agencies at bay. But some twenty years later, the ODNI has unfortunately become yet another bloated agency that incentivizes bureaucratic make-work as opposed to genuine intelligence work.\n\nMr. Clayton, given your many years as a seasoned professional in public and private practice, I\u2019m eager to hear how your experience will inform your plans to return the ODNI to those roots. I look forward to working with you to provide any legislative relief that you deem necessary\u2014such as transferring centers or functions to other government agencies because while many functions that are necessary occur at the ODNI, they don\u2019t necessarily need to be occurring there. Additionally, I am interested in hearing about your efforts to advance America\u2019s national security in your current role as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.\n\nAs U.S. attorney, Mr. Clayton has gone after some of the worst of the worst national security threats, including foreign enemies who put innocent Americans at risk and have American blood on their hands. For example, he has overseen the indictment of Venezuelan dictator Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, secured the guilty plea of Venezuelan general Hugo Carvajal, and overseen the prosecution of an Iran-backed terrorist connected to multiple attempted terror attacks in the United States. Though these are just a few high-profile cases, let me state for the record that Mr. Clayton has worked hand in glove with our intelligence agencies and counterterrorism personnel to lock up criminals who threaten our national security. I commend him and all those involved for this important work. I\u2019m interested in hearing from the nominee how he plans to apply this experience as the leader of the intelligence community.\n\nMr. Clayton, in addition to streamlining the ODNI, foremost on your to-do list will be helping refocus the intelligence community on operations by being a vocal and uncompromising advocate for its resources. If confirmed, I\u2019ll expect you to make the case to the Intelligence and Appropriations Committees for why the funding requests in a supplemental are so vital. As most of us know, intelligence community operations are at an all-time high with great successes, and while the Pentagon received money from the Working Families Tax Cut, the intelligence community did not. I\u2019ll say here publicly what I wrote to Acting Director Pulte and Director Ratcliffe last month\u2014I do not want to see any more reprogramming requests that borrow from one operational account to fund another. There are plenty of underperforming and under-executing programs across the intelligence community that can be the bill payer for needful operations until Congress can pass supplemental appropriations bills.\n\nNow, before I turn it over to the Vice Chairman, I\u2019d like to put on the record that in all my experiences with Mr. Clayton, his reputation as someone who operated with morality, decency, and integrity has proven to be true. The job Mr. Clayton has been nominated for today is not one which is sought, but one which he has been gracious enough to take on. I\u2019m confident that by the end of today, my colleagues will join me in seeking to get Mr. Clayton\u2019s nomination over the finish line.\n\nI now recognize the Vice Chairman for his opening remarks.", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410869", "Womack Cosponsored Bill to Protect 2nd Amendment Privacy Passes House", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 July 14, 2026\u2026Today, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) voted in support of H.R. 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act. He is an original cosponsor of the bill, which prohibits credit card companies and other entities from implementing Merchant Category Codes that distinguish a firearms retailer from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cThe right to bear arms is a fundamental freedom for every law-abiding American. The use of Merchant Category Codes to unconstitutionally track firearm purchases remains a radical, left-wing endeavor by anti-Second Amendment activists. I am proud to build on the work of Arkansas Governor Sanders at the federal level to protect the financial privacy and Second Amendment rights of all Americans.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nCredit card companies and other financial institutions use Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) to organize businesses by the types of goods or services purchased. These MCCS are set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).\n\nIn 2022, the ISO created a new code specifically for gun retailers. This policy has raised concerns that specific firearm MCCs can be used to track law-abiding Americans exercising their constitutional rights.\n\nSince the creation of this code, states like California and New York have mandated the use of MCCs for firearm retailers while several other states have banned the use, including Arkansas.\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-moreno-to-trump-rubio-support-de-la-espriella-in-his-transition-to-power", "Cotton, Moreno to Trump, Rubio: Support De La Espriella in his Transition to Power", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJuly 14, 2026\n\nCotton, Moreno to Trump, Rubio: Support De La Espriella in his Transition to Power\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) today sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanking them for their recognition of President-elect of Colombia Abelardo de la Espriella and encouraging the administration to name a U.S. delegation to attend his inauguration.\n\nOn June 21st, 2026, de la Espriella was elected President of Colombia through a free and fair election. In the following weeks, Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to recognize de la Espriella\u2019s victory, alleging fraud without providing any evidence.\n\nIn part, the Senators wrote:\n\n\u201cWe write to encourage the administration to publicly express U.S. solidarity with Abelardo de la Espriella as he prepares to assume his role as the next President of Colombia. We were encouraged to see the joint statement from the Members of the Shield of the Americas rejecting attempts to cast doubt on the electoral outcome. To further extend America\u2019s support to the new Colombian government, we also request you officially name a U.S. delegation to the August 7 inauguration and offer any needed transition support.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJuly 14, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Donald J. Trump\n\nPresident of the United States of America\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW\n\nWashington, DC 20500\n\nThe Honorable Marco Rubio\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of State\n\n2201 C St. NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20451\n\nDear President Trump and Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write to encourage the administration to publicly express U.S. solidarity with Abelardo de la Espriella as he prepares to assume his role as the next President of Colombia. We were encouraged to see the joint statement from the Members of the Shield of the Americas rejecting attempts to cast doubt on the electoral outcome. To further extend America\u2019s support to the new Colombian government, we also request you officially name a U.S. delegation to the August 7 inauguration and offer any needed transition support.\n\nPresident Petro\u2019s claims of election fraud are, of course, nonsense, and multiple observers have assessed the election was conducted transparently while fully complying with Colombian law. Petro is simply seeking to place his hand-chosen successor in power by alleging election interference.\n\nPetro\u2019s actions endanger Colombia\u2019s peaceful democratic transition and potentially jeopardize our relationship with the country. A strong, democratically elected Colombian government is central to continuing your work to enhance regional security across issues such as combatting illegal immigration and narcoterrorism.\n\nBoth of your personal congratulations and prompt recognition of Mr. de la Espriella after his election win in June sent a strong message of support to the newly elected Colombian government. We ask that you continue that support by making it clear that the United States government will participate in the peaceful transition to the presidency of Abelardo de la Espriella.\n\nThank you for your steadfast focus on advancing America\u2019s interests in the Western Hemisphere. Congress stands by to assist as required.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/floor-speech-remembering-senator-lindsey-graham", "Floor Speech Remembering Senator Lindsey Graham", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Lindsey Graham was a self-made American original. Born in central South Carolina, Lindsey grew up in a room behind his parent\u2019s bar and pool hall where he worked to help the family make ends meet and earned the nickname \u201cStinkball\u201d from his patrons because of his sense of humor and his irrepressible nature and his rascal streak as he called it.\n\nI saw that in my first experience with Lindsey Graham. I traveled with him and Senator McCain to the Munich Security Conference in 2013 as a brand-new congressman. That evening as I was meeting some of the other Senators on the delegation, Senator Ayotte, Senator Corker, Lindsey came up to me and slapped me on the back and asked me who the hell I was, and I introduced myself and I told him a little bit about my story and my service in the Army before I was elected to the House and he told me I was great, I needed to run for Senate; we had to win the Senate seat in Arkansas. The next morning, we had a 08 briefing with General Breedlove, then the commander of our forces in Europe, and Lindsey stumbled in about 8:55. Senator McCain held the arrival of his illegitimate son, and then we had a coffee break five minutes later when Lindsey came over, slapped me on the back and said \u201cYou are great. We got to have you run for Senate, now, what was your name again?\u201d That was Lindsey. Self-described rascal that he was.\n\nAs often joked about him, and with him, you never knew quite what Lindsey was up to, but it probably wasn\u2019t nothing. He became the first member of his family to attend college. After suddenly and unexpectedly losing both parents while attending University of South Carolina, he stepped in the raise his beloved younger sister Darline. But even in the face of tragedy, Lindsey\u2019s grit, determination, and faith enabled him to finish college, earn a law degree, serve in the Air Force, and eventually make his way here to the United States Congress.\n\nWhen Lindsey arrived in the House in 1995 as the first Republican congressman from South Carolina\u2019s Third Congressional District since 1877, he brought with him a sense of duty and responsibility, a love for liberty, and a resolute commitment to America\u2019s national security. He carried this with him to the Senate where he served for more than two decades and became the first person in South Carolina history to earn more than one million votes in a general election. Needless to say, South Carolinians loved him and it\u2019s not hard to see why.\n\nThroughout my time working with Lindsey in the Senate, he fought for South Carolinians, he defended America's founding principles, and he supported the men and women of our military. While he served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he oversaw the confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice and more than 200 federal judges committed to upholding the rule of law as our founders intended. Further, Lindsey knew that strength produces peace and prosperity, and he believed that the United States is the greatest force for freedom that mankind has ever known. Through every bill he introduced, every speech he gave, every statement he made, Lindsey ensured our allies knew our word was good and our enemies feared our resolve.\n\nIf you loved America, Lindsey loved you. And if you fought for freedom, Lindsey would fight for you. Only in America could a man like Lindsey Graham leave such a mark on our history and our future. That above all is a testament to his strength of character. Lindsey's unwavering love for our Lord, devotion to our country, and commitment to his family defined his entire life. He was an example of what makes America exceptional.\n\nThough we lost a dedicated public servant, a workhorse of a colleague, and an irreplaceable friend, his memory and his legacy will never be forgotten. I extend my deepest prayers, thoughts, and condolences to Darline, Lindsey's family, Lindsey\u2019s staff, his friends, his loved ones. America and this Senate will forever be grateful to Senator Lindsey Graham for his lifetime of service, patriotism, and courageous leadership.\n\nMr. President, I yield the floor.", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-wrda-priorities-advance-house-floor-0", "WESTERMAN WRDA PRIORITIES ADVANCE TO THE HOUSE FLOOR", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Bruce Westerman", "W000821", "westerman.house.gov", "westerman", "https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a markup to advance the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cAs a water-rich state, Arkansas depends heavily on the passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA),\u201d says Congressman Bruce Westerman. \u201cIn my capacity as a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I had the privilege of securing several maintenance and development provisions to expedite repairs for the Dardanelle Lock and Dam, strengthen efficiency requirements for the MKARNS, improve flood control, and maintain recreational access during projects on Arkansas\u2019 parks, lakes, trails, and waterways. I\u2019m grateful for Chairmen Graves and Collins\u2019 dedicated work to ensure we receive needed investments to continue improving our nation\u2019s inland waterways and water resources infrastructure.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 is biennial, bipartisan legislation that supports the viability, effectiveness, and conservation of waterways for commercial and recreational use.\n\nWesterman secured the following policy priorities in the 2026 WRDA:\n\nExpedited repairs and study completion for the Dardanelle Lock & Dam\n\nEnsures slope stabilization and recontouring to prioritize efficiency while keeping what is best for the surrounding environment in mind. This will protect navigation, prevent shutdown risks, and safeguard economic activity along the Arkansas River.\n\nStrengthening the McClellan\u2013Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS)\n\nIncreased efficiency requirements for inland waterway project management within the Corps.\n\nEnhanced dredging coordination and beneficial use policies improving sediment management in navigable waterways.\n\nPolicies improving contracting efficiency that accelerate navigation construction and maintenance.\n\nLower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study\n\nArkansas directly benefits from a basin wide plan to improve flood control, navigation reliability, sediment management, and long-term river system resilience.\n\nSupports eastern Arkansas farmers, industries, and communities vulnerable to repeat Mississippi River flooding.\n\nRecreational Access Requirements\n\nAny Corps project affecting parks, lakes, trails, or waterways in Arkansas must:\n\n- Maintain recreational access\n\n- Provide alternatives during construction\n\nUpdates to national flood risk policy\n\nRequire nonstructural solutions to be evaluated equally, benefiting rural Arkansas communities.\n\nImprove levee certifications and safety assessments.\n\nStreamline real estate requirements for maintaining levees.\n\nArkansas counties with levee districts (e.g., along the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers) benefit from faster approvals and clearer standards.", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-moreno-to-trump-rubio-support-de-la-espriella-in-his-transition-to-power/", "Cotton, Moreno to Trump, Rubio: Support De La Espriella in his Transition to Power", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJuly 14, 2026\n\nCotton, Moreno to Trump, Rubio: Support De La Espriella in his Transition to Power\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) today sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanking them for their recognition of President-elect of Colombia Abelardo de la Espriella and encouraging the administration to name a U.S. delegation to attend his inauguration.\n\nOn June 21st, 2026, de la Espriella was elected President of Colombia through a free and fair election. In the following weeks, Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to recognize de la Espriella\u2019s victory, alleging fraud without providing any evidence.\n\nIn part, the Senators wrote:\n\n\u201cWe write to encourage the administration to publicly express U.S. solidarity with Abelardo de la Espriella as he prepares to assume his role as the next President of Colombia. We were encouraged to see the joint statement from the Members of the Shield of the Americas rejecting attempts to cast doubt on the electoral outcome. To further extend America\u2019s support to the new Colombian government, we also request you officially name a U.S. delegation to the August 7 inauguration and offer any needed transition support.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJuly 14, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Donald J. Trump\n\nPresident of the United States of America\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW\n\nWashington, DC 20500\n\nThe Honorable Marco Rubio\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of State\n\n2201 C St. NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20451\n\nDear President Trump and Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write to encourage the administration to publicly express U.S. solidarity with Abelardo de la Espriella as he prepares to assume his role as the next President of Colombia. We were encouraged to see the joint statement from the Members of the Shield of the Americas rejecting attempts to cast doubt on the electoral outcome. To further extend America\u2019s support to the new Colombian government, we also request you officially name a U.S. delegation to the August 7 inauguration and offer any needed transition support.\n\nPresident Petro\u2019s claims of election fraud are, of course, nonsense, and multiple observers have assessed the election was conducted transparently while fully complying with Colombian law. Petro is simply seeking to place his hand-chosen successor in power by alleging election interference.\n\nPetro\u2019s actions endanger Colombia\u2019s peaceful democratic transition and potentially jeopardize our relationship with the country. A strong, democratically elected Colombian government is central to continuing your work to enhance regional security across issues such as combatting illegal immigration and narcoterrorism.\n\nBoth of your personal congratulations and prompt recognition of Mr. de la Espriella after his election win in June sent a strong message of support to the newly elected Colombian government. We ask that you continue that support by making it clear that the United States government will participate in the peaceful transition to the presidency of Abelardo de la Espriella.\n\nThank you for your steadfast focus on advancing America\u2019s interests in the Western Hemisphere. Congress stands by to assist as required.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/floor-speech-remembering-senator-lindsey-graham/", "Floor Speech Remembering Senator Lindsey Graham", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "Lindsey Graham was a self-made American original. Born in central South Carolina, Lindsey grew up in a room behind his parent\u2019s bar and pool hall where he worked to help the family make ends meet and earned the nickname \u201cStinkball\u201d from his patrons because of his sense of humor and his irrepressible nature and his rascal streak as he called it.\n\nI saw that in my first experience with Lindsey Graham. I traveled with him and Senator McCain to the Munich Security Conference in 2013 as a brand-new congressman. That evening as I was meeting some of the other Senators on the delegation, Senator Ayotte, Senator Corker, Lindsey came up to me and slapped me on the back and asked me who the hell I was, and I introduced myself and I told him a little bit about my story and my service in the Army before I was elected to the House and he told me I was great, I needed to run for Senate; we had to win the Senate seat in Arkansas. The next morning, we had a 08 briefing with General Breedlove, then the commander of our forces in Europe, and Lindsey stumbled in about 8:55. Senator McCain held the arrival of his illegitimate son, and then we had a coffee break five minutes later when Lindsey came over, slapped me on the back and said \u201cYou are great. We got to have you run for Senate, now, what was your name again?\u201d That was Lindsey. Self-described rascal that he was.\n\nAs often joked about him, and with him, you never knew quite what Lindsey was up to, but it probably wasn\u2019t nothing. He became the first member of his family to attend college. After suddenly and unexpectedly losing both parents while attending University of South Carolina, he stepped in the raise his beloved younger sister Darline. But even in the face of tragedy, Lindsey\u2019s grit, determination, and faith enabled him to finish college, earn a law degree, serve in the Air Force, and eventually make his way here to the United States Congress.\n\nWhen Lindsey arrived in the House in 1995 as the first Republican congressman from South Carolina\u2019s Third Congressional District since 1877, he brought with him a sense of duty and responsibility, a love for liberty, and a resolute commitment to America\u2019s national security. He carried this with him to the Senate where he served for more than two decades and became the first person in South Carolina history to earn more than one million votes in a general election. Needless to say, South Carolinians loved him and it\u2019s not hard to see why.\n\nThroughout my time working with Lindsey in the Senate, he fought for South Carolinians, he defended America\u2019s founding principles, and he supported the men and women of our military. While he served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he oversaw the confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice and more than 200 federal judges committed to upholding the rule of law as our founders intended. Further, Lindsey knew that strength produces peace and prosperity, and he believed that the United States is the greatest force for freedom that mankind has ever known. Through every bill he introduced, every speech he gave, every statement he made, Lindsey ensured our allies knew our word was good and our enemies feared our resolve.\n\nIf you loved America, Lindsey loved you. And if you fought for freedom, Lindsey would fight for you. Only in America could a man like Lindsey Graham leave such a mark on our history and our future. That above all is a testament to his strength of character. Lindsey\u2019s unwavering love for our Lord, devotion to our country, and commitment to his family defined his entire life. He was an example of what makes America exceptional.\n\nThough we lost a dedicated public servant, a workhorse of a colleague, and an irreplaceable friend, his memory and his legacy will never be forgotten. I extend my deepest prayers, thoughts, and condolences to Darline, Lindsey\u2019s family, Lindsey\u2019s staff, his friends, his loved ones. America and this Senate will forever be grateful to Senator Lindsey Graham for his lifetime of service, patriotism, and courageous leadership.\n\nMr. President, I yield the floor.", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10258", "RELEASE: REP. HILL\u2019S LANDMARK HOUSING BILL BECOMES LAW", "2026-07-11", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, held a press conference to celebrate his bill, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, becoming law. The bipartisan, bicameral bill is the first major housing legislation in decades. It cuts red tape, increases housing supply, and makes homeownership more attainable for families across Arkansas and the nation. The bill passed the Senate 85-14 and the House 358-32.\n\nRep Hill said, \"When I first ran for Congress, I set out to author and pass legislation that improves the lives of central Arkansans and prove that Washington could still work for the American people. Having this historic housing bill become law today is the realization of those goals, that by working together, debating in good faith, and putting the interests of Americans ahead of politics, good policy can become law.\n\n\"This legislation strengthens community banks, modernizes building codes, and cuts red tape. More houses will be built, more families will enter the market, and homes across the country will be more affordable. The bill also delivers on one of the President\u2019s goals by restricting institutional investors from outcompeting American families for homes. After years of work and months of negotiations with the Senate, this bicameral, bipartisan bill is a win for families from Arkansas to every corner of this country, and I am pleased to have successfully collaborated on this priority with the Financial Services Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA).\"\n\nWorking in partnership with Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes more than 45 provisions to reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers to new home construction and modernize HUD programs, nine community banking bills to expand local lending for housing construction and mortgages, and measures to prevent large institutional investors from unfairly competing with individual homebuyers for homes.\n\nCommunity banks are the backbone of Arkansas's economy, and the bill provides targeted relief to strengthen their ability to lend in local housing markets. The legislation also modernizes building codes, makes local zoning rules more competitive, and increases congressional oversight of HUD. This gives Arkansas communities greater flexibility to address their own housing needs.\n\nClick here to watch the press conference.\n\nClick here for the text of the bill.\n\nClick here for a one-pager.\n\nClick here for a section-by-section.", 1, "2026-07-12T07:28:31Z", "2026-07-12T07:30:18Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410868", "From the Front: July 10, 2026", "2026-07-10", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: July 10, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      July 10, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410867", "From the Front: July 3, 2026", "2026-07-03", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: July 3, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      July 3, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-07-03T08:00:00Z", "2026-07-03T08:01:30Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10207", "MEDIA ADVISORY: REP. HILL TO HOST UNVEILING OF A BUST HONORING AN ARKANSAS HERO AT THE ARKANSAS STATE CAPITOL", "2026-07-02", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "LITTLE ROCK, AR \u2013 On Tuesday at 10:00 AM CT at the Arkansas State Capitol, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) will host the unveiling of the bust of former Lt. Governor and World War II hero Maurice \u201cFootsie\u201d Britt.\n\nMaurice \u201cFootsie\u201d Britt of Carlisle, Arkansas, was the first American soldier in World War II to receive all of the Army's top decorations for valor in a single war, earning the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and four Purple Hearts while fighting across North Africa, Sicily, and Italy with the 3rd Infantry Division. He later served two terms as Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas alongside Governor Winthrop Rockefeller.\n\nWHO: Rep. French Hill, Arkansas State Representative Joey Carr, Deputy Secretary Dr. Paul Lawrence (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), Dr. Charles Robinson (Chancellor, University of Arkansas), members of the Britt family, the U.S. Air Force, Arkansas National Guard, 106th Army Band, and the bust's artist, Kevin Kresse, who also created the statue of Arkansas icon Johnny Cash that resides in the U.S. Capitol.\n\nWHAT: Maurice \u201cFootsie\u201d Britt Bust Unveiling\n\nWHEN: 10:00 AM CT, Tuesday, July 7, 2026\n\nWHERE:\n\nArkansas State Capitol Rotunda, Second Floor\n\n500 Woodlane StLittle Rock, AR 72201\n\nPress:", 1, "2026-07-03T08:00:00Z", "2026-07-03T08:01:30Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10208", "RELEASE: HILL AWARDS LATEST GOLDEN FLEECE TO USDA", "2026-07-02", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as the latest recipient of his Golden Fleece Award for failing to stop the rampant theft of SNAP benefits from vulnerable families.\n\nThe Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that states replaced more than $320 million in stolen SNAP benefits between October 2022 and December 2024. Criminals used scams like card skimming, card cloning, and phishing to steal SNAP EBT card information and drain SNAP benefits before families could use them to buy groceries. In Arkansas, more than 1,100 families had their SNAP benefits stolen using card skimmers in 2024, totaling more than $550,000. USDA should stop this fraud before criminals can drain benefits from vulnerable Americans.\n\nRep. Hill said, \"SNAP dollars should go to hungry families, not fraudsters. Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from someone who needs help buying groceries. I appreciate the Trump Administration's work to go after criminals stealing SNAP benefits, and I urge the USDA to bring that same urgency to stopping electronic theft before it happens, not just chasing it after the fact. Families who rely on SNAP need to know the money will be there, and taxpayers in Arkansas and across America deserve to know their hard-earned tax dollars are being protected.\"\n\nIn his letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Rep. Hill writes:\n\nDear Secretary Rollins,\n\nI write today to inform you that the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Administration is this month\u2019s recipient of my Golden Fleece Award. I am awarding this to USDA because of its failure to properly protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from electronic theft and fraud.\n\nSNAP is intended to help low-income families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and children put food on the table. That mission matters. In Fiscal Year 2025, SNAP was expected to provide approximately $96 billion in benefits to about 43 million people nationwide. In Arkansas alone, about 240,400 people received SNAP benefits each month in Fiscal Year 2025, representing 7.7 percent of the state\u2019s population.\n\nThis is how serious the problem is: the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that states replaced more than $320 million in stolen SNAP benefits between October 2022 and December 2024. Criminals used scams like card skimming, card cloning, and phishing to steal SNAP EBT card information and drain SNAP benefits before families could use them to buy groceries.\n\nArkansas families have been hit by SNAP fraud. According to the Arkansas Department of Human Services, more than 1,100 Arkansas families had their SNAP benefits stolen using card skimmers in 2024, totaling more than $550,000. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has warned that scammers are accessing EBT card funds without the recipient\u2019s knowledge and then immediately spending that money outside Arkansas, leaving vulnerable Arkansans without the funds they need to purchase groceries. In addition, USDA has acknowledged that criminals are using electronic schemes such as skimming, cloning, phishing, and other methods to steal SNAP benefits before recipients can use them. This is especially concerning because these stolen benefits are intended for low-income families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and children, not criminals exploiting weaknesses in outdated EBT security systems.\n\nEvery dollar stolen from SNAP is a dollar taken from a person who needs help buying groceries. It is also a dollar taken from taxpayers who expect the SNAP program to serve the vulnerable. Protecting SNAP from fraud is how we preserve SNAP for Americans who truly need it. That is exactly why fraud in this program is so unacceptable.\n\nI appreciate that the Trump Administration has made SNAP program integrity a priority and that USDA has already taken steps to target criminals stealing SNAP benefits. USDA has stated that fraud will not be tolerated by the Trump Administration, and USDA\u2019s Special Investigations Unit has worked with federal law enforcement partners to target criminals engaged in stealing SNAP benefits. USDA has also stated that the SNAP Fraud Framework supports state efforts to improve and expand fraud prevention, detection, and investigation. That work is welcome. Now USDA should bring that same urgency to stopping electronic SNAP theft before criminals can drain benefits from vulnerable Americans.\n\nTaxpayers deserve to know that USDA is safeguarding their dollars. Families who depend on SNAP deserve to know their benefits will not be stolen before they can buy groceries. I urge USDA to provide Congress with clear, state-by-state data on SNAP theft, including the number of households affected, the dollar amount stolen, and the steps being taken to protect recipients going forward. Should you require additional authority from Congress to accomplish this task and protect SNAP beneficiaries from electronic theft, I ask that you notify me. I look forward to working with you on this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nFrench Hill\n\nMember of Congress\n\nCC: Acting Administrator of the USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, Shiela Corley", 1, "2026-07-03T08:00:00Z", "2026-07-03T08:01:30Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-following-supreme-court-ruling-on-banning-men-from-womens-sports", "Cotton Statement Following Supreme Court Ruling on Banning Men from Women\u2019s Sports", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 30, 2026\n\nCotton Statement Following Supreme Court Ruling on Banning Men from Women\u2019s Sports\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released a statement following the Supreme Court ruling banning men from women\u2019s sports:\n\n\u201cToday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of common sense\u2014women\u2019s sports are for women, not for men. Arkansas was one of the first states to push back on this madness and I\u2019m glad the Supreme Court agrees. This decision benefits women across the country.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-following-supreme-court-ruling-on-banning-men-from-womens-sports/", "Cotton Statement Following Supreme Court Ruling on Banning Men from Women\u2019s Sports", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 30, 2026\n\nCotton Statement Following Supreme Court Ruling on Banning Men from Women\u2019s Sports\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released a statement following the Supreme Court ruling banning men from women\u2019s sports:\n\n\u201cToday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of common sense\u2014women\u2019s sports are for women, not for men. Arkansas was one of the first states to push back on this madness and I\u2019m glad the Supreme Court agrees. This decision benefits women across the country.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410830", "From the Front: June 26, 2022", "2026-06-26", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: June 26, 2022\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      June 26, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-06-30T06:29:10Z", "2026-06-30T06:30:42Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10206", "RELEASE: HILL, VEASEY, WILLIAMS, DELBENE, SCHWEIKERT, AND BEYER RELAUNCH BIPARTISAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAUCUS", "2026-06-26", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02) this week relaunched the bipartisan House Entrepreneurship Caucus alongside Co-Chairs Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX-25), Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ-01), and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA-08).\n\nFirst established in 2019, the House Entrepreneurship Caucus brings Republicans and Democrats together to address the steady, decades-long decline in new business formation. Too many would-be entrepreneurs never get off the ground, often held back by limited access to capital, regulatory complexity, and a startup environment that has grown increasingly difficult to enter, particularly in communities that have never fully shared in the innovation economy.\n\nThe relaunch of the House Entrepreneurship Caucus marks a renewed commitment to change that. Through policy discussions, stakeholder engagement, and targeted legislation, the caucus will work to build an environment where American entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owners can thrive.\n\nRep. Hill said, \u201cThe 'startup slump' is a real concern and something I have been working to tackle throughout my time in Congress. Entrepreneurship is the engine that drives our economy forward, and as an entrepreneur myself, I know how difficult it can be to get a business off the ground. It's critical that the policies coming out of Washington encourage innovation and risk-taking. Supporting startups and small business owners is not a partisan issue, and I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as Co-Chair, all of whom have either started or ran a business, to promote strategies and policies that create an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive.\u201d\n\nRep. Veasey said, \u201cI am proud to join the Congressional Entrepreneurship Caucus and support efforts to strengthen innovation, support small businesses, and empower entrepreneurs who drive economic growth and opportunity across the nation. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance initiatives that help current and future entrepreneurs succeed.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a second-generation small business owner, I know firsthand that every successful business starts with someone willing to take a risk,\u201d said Rep. Williams. \u201cAs Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, I have spoken with entrepreneurs across the country and seen both the opportunities they create and the challenges they face. Today, I am proud to rejoin the Entrepreneurship Caucus and work alongside my colleagues to support the next generation of innovators. Together, we can ensure the next generation of entrepreneurs has every opportunity to achieve the American Dream.\u201d\n\nRep. DelBene said, \u201cAs a former entrepreneur, I know firsthand the challenges of starting and growing a new business. This bipartisan caucus will help Congress better understand the needs of entrepreneurs and ensure we craft smart, effective policies informed by small business and startup leaders. When innovators bring new ideas, products, and services to our communities, they strengthen our economy. I look forward to leading this bipartisan group and advocating for the entrepreneurs driving growth and innovation across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cEntrepreneurs in Arizona are critical job creators who help build economic growth,\u201d said Rep. Schweikert. \u201cI am pleased to Co-Chair the Entrepreneurship Caucus again this Congress to work with my colleagues on bipartisan policies that support innovators across the nation. No startup should face impossible barriers while working to improve our communities and drive the local economy. Through this caucus, we will keep pushing for a more competitive tax and regulatory environment that allows entrepreneurs to take risks, create jobs, and build the next generation of American businesses.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-03T08:00:00Z", "2026-07-03T08:01:30Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-protect-americans-from-chinese-made-medical-devices", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Protect Americans from Chinese-Made Medical Devices", "2026-06-25", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 25, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Protect Americans from Chinese-Made Medical Devices\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) yesterday introduced legislation to combat the cybersecurity risk posed by Communist Chinese-made medical devices. The Countering Chinese Cyberthreats for Patients (Countering CCP) Act would direct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review and recall these devices to protect American\u2019s health data and privacy.\n\nIn May, Senator Cotton sent a letter to the FDA requesting an enhanced review of Chinese-manufactured medical devices following the FDA recall of Contec CMS8000.\n\n\u201cCommunist Chinese-made medical devices threaten the privacy and safety of every American patient. My bill would crack-down on these dangerous devices,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Countering Chinese Cyberthreats for Patients (Countering CCP) Act would:\n\nDirect the FDA and CISA to conduct a retroactive review of legacy Chinese-made networked medical devices to identify potential cybersecurity risks.\n\nDirect the FDA to recall Chinese-made networked medical devices that pose cybersecurity risks to American patients.\n\nDirect HHS and CISA to submit a report to Congress describing cyber preparedness of the U.S. medical device industry, Chinese market share of medical devices made in the U.S., and methods to bolster cyber preparedness of the U.S. medical device industry.", 1, "2026-06-26T06:29:35Z", "2026-06-26T06:31:46Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-protect-americans-from-chinese-made-medical-devices/", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Protect Americans from Chinese-Made Medical Devices", "2026-06-25", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 25, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Protect Americans from Chinese-Made Medical Devices\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) yesterday introduced legislation to combat the cybersecurity risk posed by Communist Chinese-made medical devices. The Countering Chinese Cyberthreats for Patients (Countering CCP) Act would direct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review and recall these devices to protect American\u2019s health data and privacy.\n\nIn May, Senator Cotton sent a letter to the FDA requesting an enhanced review of Chinese-manufactured medical devices following the FDA recall of Contec Medical Systems Co., Ltd. CMS8000.\n\n\u201cCommunist Chinese-made medical devices threaten the privacy and safety of every American patient. My bill would crack-down on these dangerous devices,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Countering Chinese Cyberthreats for Patients (Countering CCP) Act would:\n\nDirect the FDA and CISA to conduct a retroactive review of legacy Chinese-made networked medical devices to identify potential cybersecurity risks.\n\nDirect the FDA to recall Chinese-made networked medical devices that pose cybersecurity risks to American patients.\n\nDirect HHS and CISA to submit a report to Congress describing cyber preparedness of the U.S. medical device industry, Chinese market share of medical devices made in the U.S., and methods to bolster cyber preparedness of the U.S. medical device industry.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410827", "Womack, Case, Huizenga, and Peters Introduce Bill to Fix America\u2019s Budget", "2026-06-24", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 June 24, 2026\u2026Representatives Steve Womack (AR-3), Ed Case (HI-1), Bill Huizenga (MI-4), and Scott Peters (CA-50) today introduced the Budgeting for a Better America Act, aimed at reforming Congress\u2019 broken budget process. This bill would require Congress to adopt a biennial budget framework, establish a bipartisan fiscal commission, and implement other good governance reforms.\n\nRepresentative Womack said, \u201cEach year, Congress operates from the same broken blueprint when it comes to our budget process. These failures have compounded, leading to runaway debt and the impending depletion of our social trust funds. We need a better solution, which is why I am introducing the Budgeting for a Better America Act\u2014building on the work I accomplished as Chairman of the House Budget Committee and Co-Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform. Bad budgeting bankrupts our future, and our nation cannot afford to delay these overdue reforms any longer. I thank Representatives Case, Huizenga, and Peters for leading this legislation alongside me, and I am eager to build consensus around this critical issue\u2014the fiscal state of our nation depends on it.\u201d\n\nRepresentative Case said, \u201cEvery business and family knows that sound finances start with sound budgeting, and governments are no different. Yet the reality of no federal budgets, annual spending without any budgetary direction, fiscal brinkmanship, continuing resolutions and government shutdowns, ballooning federal deficits and debt, depletion of social trust funds, and more are stark symptoms of a broken federal budget system in crying need of reform. I appreciate my continued partnership with Representatives Womack, Peters, Huizenga, and other bipartisan colleagues to overcome denial and advance the real solutions that are desperately needed.\u201d\n\nRepresentative Huizenga said, \u201cTackling the debt requires all-hands on deck and a willingness to examine innovative approaches in order to get our nation\u2019s fiscal house in order. The Budgeting for a Better America Act takes serious steps to increase fiscal oversight by enacting a biennial budgeting process and creating a fiscal commission to address our nation\u2019s long-term debt. Washington is littered with debt deniers who downplay the seriousness of the fiscal crisis facing our nation. I am proud to stand with Representatives Womack, Case, and Peters and put forward another bipartisan solution to address our nation\u2019s unsustainable fiscal situation.\u201d\n\nRepresentative Peters said, \u201cOur national debt is now almost $40 trillion and under the current budget process, we borrow almost $2 trillion every year just to pay our expenses. Congress holds the power of the purse, but a year-to-year budget process is no match for the scale of our fiscal problems. This bill would address the immediate crisis with a fiscal commission, set an achievable deficit target at 3 percent of GDP, and help fix the budget process with a two-year budget cycle to end the short-term thinking that got us here. I look forward to working with Rep. Womack to show the American people that Congress is serious about getting our economy back on track.\"\n\nThe bipartisan bill is supported by original cosponsors Representatives Tom Cole (OK-4), Ken Calvert (CA-41), Don Davis (NC-1), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-3), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Hal Rogers (KY-5), Pete Sessions (TX-17), and Jefferson Shreve (IN-6).\n\nBackground:\n\nThe annual budget process, largely unchanged in the last 50 years, has not helped Congress develop an overall fiscal plan and complete appropriations on time to avoid Continuing Resolutions (CRs) and government shutdowns. The challenges for the country are mounting:\n\nMissed Deadlines: Since 1974, Congress has only adopted a budget resolution by the statutory deadline six times. Congress has not completed all 12 appropriations bills before the start of the fiscal year since FY1997. Hopping from crisis to crisis makes it more challenging to focus on long-term and strategic issues.\n\nImpending Fiscal Disaster: Our national debt is nearly $40 trillion, net interest on the debt has eclipsed $1 trillion annually, and the Social Security and Medicare trust funds are projected to be depleted in the coming years.\n\nIn 2018, Chairman Steve Womack (AR-3) led the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform tasked with addressing some of these challenges. Building on the Committee\u2019s recommendations, the Budgeting for a Better America Act incorporates additional reforms to improve transparency and develop policies to address the long-term debt.\n\nBill highlights:\n\nThe Budgeting for a Better America Act would restore fiscal responsibility by:\n\nEstablishing an 18-member bipartisan commission to aid in identifying and developing policies to achieve a 3 percent annual deficit-to-GDP ratio within 10 years and work towards long-term fiscal stabilization.\n\nAdopting a biennial budgeting framework to offer a practical step towards addressing persistent delays in the current budget process and reducing the risk of government shutdowns and CRs.\n\nRequiring budget resolutions to include debt, deficit, and tax metrics\u2014providing Congress and the public with a clearer understanding of fiscal impacts.\n\nEstablishing an annual televised bicameral hearing with the Comptroller General to address the nation's long-term fiscal outlook.\n\nRequiring the annual President\u2019s Budget Request to include a better analysis on the health of unfunded obligations, including Social Security and Medicare.\n\nRequiring an administrative supplemental budget submission from the President by December 1st to enable Congress to begin their work earlier.\n\nRequiring the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to conduct an introductory debt and deficit briefing for new members of Congress.\n\nA one-pager is available HERE.\n\nA section-by-section bill summary is available HERE.\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-25T06:30:03Z", "2026-06-25T06:31:21Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410828", "House Appropriators Approve FY27 Defense Bill, Advancing All Twelve Funding Measures", "2026-06-24", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 June 24, 2026\u2026Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today voted in support of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Defense Appropriations bill that advanced out of the House Appropriations Committee. This bill allocates $1.072 trillion in discretionary spending to fund Department of War operations.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cMaintaining our military dominance is not an inexpensive endeavor, but it is an investment worth making to protect our homeland and preserve our way of life. This defense bill provides the resources needed to begin replenishing our munitions stockpile, invest in cutting-edge technologies, and support our military personnel\u2014who remain our nation\u2019s greatest strategic asset. I thank Defense Subcommittee Chairman Calvert for his leadership in advancing this legislation, and I look forward to continuing our work to ensure our common defense remains well-equipped to respond to emerging threats.\u201d\n\nCongressman Womack continued, \u201cThis Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Cole, has worked tirelessly to move all twelve appropriations bills out of committee and provide ample time to negotiate with the Senate and refine our work. This gives Congress a real opportunity to fund the government on time and in full\u2014an opportunity that should not be squandered. I am encouraged that our chamber is bringing these bills to the floor and encourage my colleagues to continue this work so we can do the job the American people sent us here to do. We have made meaningful progress\u2014let\u2019s not stop here.\u201d\n\nBill highlights:\n\nEnhances America\u2019s strategic military advantage and preparedness by:\n\nProviding $836 million to procure, for the first time, new-entrant low-cost munition systems and providing multiyear procurement authority.\n\nProviding over $7.5 billion for hypersonic weapons and test infrastructure.\n\nIncreasing funding for research and development of state-of-the-art defense capabilities, including funding for research into contested logistics, advanced materials, and next-generation power electronics at the University of Arkansas.\n\nIncreasing funding for facilities at the United States Military Academy, where Congressman Womack serves as Chairman of the Board of Visitors.\n\nProviding funding for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA), which supports the Arkansas National Guard\u2019s efforts as they protect and support our community in times of need.\n\nStrengthens support for service members and military families by:\n\nImplementing a military pay raise of 7 percent for all military personnel ranked E-5 and below, 6 percent for E-6 to O-4, and 5 percent for O-4 and above.\n\nProviding an additional $15 million for the Military and Family Life Counseling Program, which provides counseling services to service members and their families to support operational readiness and resilience.\n\nOptimizes the Department of War and improves transparency by:\n\nSupporting business modernization efforts, including $250 million to accelerate the transition to a modern, secure, and audit-ready financial management environment.\n\nDigitizing acquisition processes through $72.5 million for Acquisition Visibility\n\nProtecting and preserving competition and readiness by mandating a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA).\n\nModernizing requirements and resourcing by including $140.1 million for the Mission Engineering and Integration Activity and $92.7 million for Acquisition Integration and Interoperability.\n\nDisrupts transnational drug trafficking by:\n\nProviding $1.2 billion for counter-drug programs.\n\nIncreasing funding for the National Guard Counter-Drug Program.\n\nProviding $464.8 million for United States Southern Command, which supports enhanced detection and monitoring, theater-wide operations, improved command and control, and increased force protection to pursue drug cartels and terrorist networks.\n\nTransferring Mexico from United States Northern Command\u2019s jurisdiction to United States Southern Command for better coordination and prioritization.\n\nA summary of the bill is available HERE.\n\nThe bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-25T06:30:03Z", "2026-06-25T06:31:21Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-lee-to-wright-chinese-nationals-steal-innovation-from-american-labs", "Cotton, Lee to Wright: Chinese Nationals Steal Innovation from American Labs", "2026-06-23", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 23, 2026\n\nCotton, Lee to Wright: Chinese Nationals Steal Innovation from American Labs\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) today sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright raising concern over Chinese nationals\u2019 access to American National Labs. Chinese nationals infiltrate sensitive research facilities to steal American intellectual property and technology which is then used to benefit Communist China.\n\nIn January 2026, the Senators, along with nine of their colleagues, sent a letter to Secretary Wright urging him to address this issue. In March 2025, they introduced the Guarding American Technology from Exploitation (GATE) Act as a legislative solution. The bill is currently being blocked by Energy and Natural Resources Committee Democrats.\n\nIn part, the Senators wrote:\n\n\u201cWe write expressing serious concern regarding the Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) continued practice of permitting foreign nationals from China to access facilities across the National Laboratory complex and work alongside American scientists. Recent DOE data underscores that this practice puts the nation\u2019s research enterprise at risk of foreign intelligence collection and technology transfers that will benefit our adversaries.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJune 23, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Chris Wright\n\nSecretary, Department of Energy\n\n1000 Independence Avenue SW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20024\n\nDear Secretary Wright:\n\nWe write expressing serious concern regarding the Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) continued practice of permitting foreign nationals from China to access facilities across the National Laboratory complex and work alongside American scientists. Recent DOE data underscores that this practice puts the nation\u2019s research enterprise at risk of foreign intelligence collection and technology transfers that will benefit our adversaries.\n\nAccording to DOE\u2019s own data, Chinese nationals continue to occupy substantial roles across a variety of access types, including short term visits (approximately 1,900 in FY 2025), long term research assignments (approximately 1,300 in FY 2025), and even formal employment (approximately 2,100 in FY 2025). The Department further reports in FY 2025, on-site user facilities at the National Labs were accessed physically and remotely more than 5,000 times by Chinese nationals. These facts reflect severe vulnerabilities at our nation\u2019s premier and most sensitive scientific environments.\n\nChina is our main competitor in research and development and the race for emerging tech, where it seeks to surpass the United States by stealing American intellectual property and technologies. This is widely known and well-documented, and yet for decades we continue to give Chinese national scientists access to our National Laboratories.\n\nThese numbers are not small, nor are they incidental. They represent a systemic exposure of our National Labs, including the American scientists who work there and topics they are working on, to an adversary determined to defeat the United States. Given that DOE has not substantially reduced this exposure, we respectfully request answers to the following:\n\nHow does DOE's risk framework account for China's National Intelligence Law, which legally obligates every Chinese citizen\u2014including those working in our National Laboratories\u2014to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services upon demand, regardless of where they reside?\n\nWhy does the Department permit Chinese nationals to work inside the National Labs, side by side with American scientists?\n\nAre Chinese nationals given access to controlled technologies, export controlled technologies, or any other sensitive research environments within the National Laboratories? If so, how many?\n\nWhat steps is DOE taking to reduce remote access by Chinese nationals, given the Department\u2019s own finding that thousands of users operate remotely with limited oversight?\n\nDoes DOE intend to reduce or cap Chinese nationals\u2019 participation in unclassified research areas, and if not, why not?\n\nWhat counterintelligence assessments has DOE conducted regarding the concentration of Chinese nationals in specific labs, programs, or user facilities?\n\nThe Department\u2019s mission is to advance American scientific leadership, protect national security, and safeguard critical technologies. This mission can\u2019t be achieved when it\u2019s undermined by thousands of Chinese nationals infiltrating the National Labs each year. We look forward to your thoughts on these systemic vulnerabilities affecting our labs.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-24T06:25:30Z", "2026-06-24T06:26:49Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-lee-to-wright-chinese-nationals-steal-innovation-from-american-labs/", "Cotton, Lee to Wright: Chinese Nationals Steal Innovation from American Labs", "2026-06-23", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 23, 2026\n\nCotton, Lee to Wright: Chinese Nationals Steal Innovation from American Labs\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) today sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright raising concern over Chinese nationals\u2019 access to American National Labs. Chinese nationals infiltrate sensitive research facilities to steal American intellectual property and technology which is then used to benefit Communist China.\n\nIn January 2026, the Senators, along with nine of their colleagues, sent a letter to Secretary Wright urging him to address this issue. In March 2025, they introduced the Guarding American Technology from Exploitation (GATE) Act as a legislative solution. The bill is currently being blocked by Energy and Natural Resources Committee Democrats.\n\nIn part, the Senators wrote:\n\n\u201cWe write expressing serious concern regarding the Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) continued practice of permitting foreign nationals from China to access facilities across the National Laboratory complex and work alongside American scientists. Recent DOE data underscores that this practice puts the nation\u2019s research enterprise at risk of foreign intelligence collection and technology transfers that will benefit our adversaries.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJune 23, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Chris Wright\n\nSecretary, Department of Energy\n\n1000 Independence Avenue SW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20024\n\nDear Secretary Wright:\n\nWe write expressing serious concern regarding the Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) continued practice of permitting foreign nationals from China to access facilities across the National Laboratory complex and work alongside American scientists. Recent DOE data underscores that this practice puts the nation\u2019s research enterprise at risk of foreign intelligence collection and technology transfers that will benefit our adversaries.\n\nAccording to DOE\u2019s own data, Chinese nationals continue to occupy substantial roles across a variety of access types, including short term visits (approximately 1,900 in FY 2025), long term research assignments (approximately 1,300 in FY 2025), and even formal employment (approximately 2,100 in FY 2025). The Department further reports in FY 2025, on-site user facilities at the National Labs were accessed physically and remotely more than 5,000 times by Chinese nationals. These facts reflect severe vulnerabilities at our nation\u2019s premier and most sensitive scientific environments.\n\nChina is our main competitor in research and development and the race for emerging tech, where it seeks to surpass the United States by stealing American intellectual property and technologies. This is widely known and well-documented, and yet for decades we continue to give Chinese national scientists access to our National Laboratories.\n\nThese numbers are not small, nor are they incidental. They represent a systemic exposure of our National Labs, including the American scientists who work there and topics they are working on, to an adversary determined to defeat the United States. Given that DOE has not substantially reduced this exposure, we respectfully request answers to the following:\n\nHow does DOE\u2019s risk framework account for China\u2019s National Intelligence Law, which legally obligates every Chinese citizen\u2014including those working in our National Laboratories\u2014to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services upon demand, regardless of where they reside?\n\nWhy does the Department permit Chinese nationals to work inside the National Labs, side by side with American scientists?\n\nAre Chinese nationals given access to controlled technologies, export controlled technologies, or any other sensitive research environments within the National Laboratories? If so, how many?\n\nWhat steps is DOE taking to reduce remote access by Chinese nationals, given the Department\u2019s own finding that thousands of users operate remotely with limited oversight?\n\nDoes DOE intend to reduce or cap Chinese nationals\u2019 participation in unclassified research areas, and if not, why not?\n\nWhat counterintelligence assessments has DOE conducted regarding the concentration of Chinese nationals in specific labs, programs, or user facilities?\n\nThe Department\u2019s mission is to advance American scientific leadership, protect national security, and safeguard critical technologies. This mission can\u2019t be achieved when it\u2019s undermined by thousands of Chinese nationals infiltrating the National Labs each year. We look forward to your thoughts on these systemic vulnerabilities affecting our labs.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410822", "Womack Hosts U.S. Service Academy Send-Off Picnic", "2026-06-19", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "BENTONVILLE, Arkansas\u2014June 20, 2026\u2026Today, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) hosted his annual picnic honoring Third District students who accepted Offers of Appointment to U.S. military service academies this year, as well as 2026 military service academy graduates from the district.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cIt is one of my highest honors as Congressman for Arkansas\u2019s Third District to nominate bright, determined, and selfless students who will be shaped into the leaders of tomorrow at our nation\u2019s esteemed U.S. military academies. This fall, the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy will welcome some of the Third District\u2019s finest students, and I extend my congratulations and best wishes as these young people begin their appointments.\u201d\n\nCongressman Womack continued, \u201cWe are also here to celebrate the Class of 2026 as they embark on a new chapter as commissioned officers. I am exceedingly proud of the sacrifice, discipline, and hard work that earned them both their diplomas and officer commissions. These men and women are exceptionally prepared to lead our military, and I have no doubt they will serve with distinction and excel in the years ahead.\u201d\n\n2026 Academy Appointees\n\nUSMA\n\nWeston Arnett of Greenwood\n\nCasey Elliot of Springdale\n\nJack Hooe of Bentonville\n\nJacob McCrary of Garfield\n\nConstantin Shatilenko of Rogers\n\nSullivan Shepard of Rogers\n\nUSNA\n\nVaughn Fields of Rogers\n\nHannah Hanson of Bentonville\n\nColt Hood of Fayetteville\n\nWilliam Stewart of Fayetteville\n\nUSAFA\n\nKenneth Dufault of Little Flock\n\nWilliam Neumann of Bentonville\n\nJoseph Rouse of Fayetteville\n\nSydney Seymour of Bella Vista\n\nJustus Thurlby of Bentonville\n\nUSMMA\n\nCarter Muth of Rogers\n\nCharles Quayle of Fayetteville\n\nUSAFA Preparatory School\n\nOlivia Whitt of Fort Smith\n\nClass of 2026 Academy Graduates\n\nUSMA\n\nEllery Doyna of Fayetteville\n\nLuke Monk of Fort Smith\n\nSydney Rhuda of Bentonville\n\nJoey Sta Romana of Centerton\n\nLuke Welcher of Fayetteville\n\nUSNA\n\nDylan Talbot of Centerton\n\nNoah Wilson of Springdale\n\nUSAFA\n\nJuan Andrade of Rogers\n\nElise Bell of Harrison\n\nJace Sutulovich of Siloam Springs", 1, "2026-06-21T06:40:40Z", "2026-06-21T06:42:26Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410823", "From the Front: June 19, 2026", "2026-06-19", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: June 19, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      June 19, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-06-23T06:27:52Z", "2026-06-23T06:29:20Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10167", "RELEASE: HILL AND JACKSON RELAUNCH BIPARTISAN CAUCUS TO CHAMPION CAREER TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT", "2026-06-18", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman French Hill (R-AR-02) and Congressman Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) announce the relaunch of the bipartisan Congressional Skilled Workforce Caucus to champion skilled workforce development and inform Members of Congress on issues facing American workers and employers who depend on a trained, capable workforce. Hill and Jackson will serve as Co-Chairs of the caucus for the 119th Congress.The Skilled Workforce Caucus will serve as a forum for Members to coordinate on federal policy priorities related to skilled workforce training, career and technical education, apprenticeships, and the pipeline of workers needed across healthcare, aviation, technology, and the sectors that build and power our nation.\n\nThe need is urgent. The construction industry alone is projected to need 349,000 additional workers in 2026, with roughly 41% of the current construction workforce expected to retire by 2031. The healthcare sector faces a parallel crisis, with more than 189,100 registered nurse job openings projected annually through 2034. Across aviation, technology, and energy, the story is the same as demand continues to outpace the pipeline. If left unaddressed, the skilled labor shortage could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars in lost economic output.\n\nRep. French Hill said, \u201cFor decades, we pushed young people toward four-year degrees, which had the unintended consequence of making trade schools and skilled labor look like a second-rate career path. The fact is, our skilled workers are the backbone of our economy, integral to everything that makes this nation great, from our healthcare and technology industries to the workers who build our homes and maintain our infrastructure. While we continue to applaud those who attend our great colleges and universities, this caucus will make sure Congress pays equal attention to the skilled workers who make modern American life possible. I am proud to work with Congressman Jonathan Jackson to ensure their voices are heard in Washington.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur nation needs a skilled workforce prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century economy,\u201d said Rep. Jonathan Jackson. \u201cI am honored to join Rep. Hill in relaunching the Skilled Workforce Caucus to bring Members of Congress together around a shared commitment to strengthening workforce development and expanding opportunity for working families. By investing in career and technical education, apprenticeships, and workforce training, we can create more pathways to family-sustaining careers, close skills gaps across critical industries, and build an economy where prosperity reaches every community.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-19T06:50:32Z", "2026-06-19T06:53:40Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410821", "What They Are Saying: Third District Stakeholders Welcome Community Projects Funding", "2026-06-18", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014June 18, 2026\u2026Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies, secured and voted to advance more than $105.4 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) for 19 local projects in the Third District of Arkansas.\n\nThe bills that include the funding have been approved by the House Appropriations Committee and now await consideration by the full House of Representatives.\n\nRead what stakeholders are saying about these efforts and the impact that the funding will have on the community.\n\nThe Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) received $5 million for Arkansas Highway 10 improvements, $10 million for Arkansas Highway 59 improvements, and $7.736 million for Arkansas Highway 72 improvements in the city of Pea Ridge.\n\nARDOT Director Jared Wiley said, \u201cAs transportation construction costs continue to outpace revenues, I am especially grateful for Congressman Womack and his commitment to providing much-needed infrastructure funding for projects in Arkansas\u2019s Third District. Womack\u2019s efforts have infused over $100 million for vitally important transportation projects in the past five years. This funding enabled the progression of many projects including the Springdale Northern Bypass, the XNA Connector, the Greenwood Bypass, and the Interstate 49 Extension. The 2027 appropriations package includes an additional $22.7 million for highway projects in the Third Congressional District that will improve mobility and safety for countless Arkansans.\u201d\n\nPea Ridge Mayor Nathan See said, \u201cOn behalf of the city of Pea Ridge, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Congressman Womack for his support in securing $7.736 million in federal funding for the Highway 72 intersection improvement project through the FY2027 THUD bill. This investment represents a significant milestone for our community and will have a lasting impact on the safety, mobility, and future growth of Pea Ridge. As one of the fastest-growing communities in Northwest Arkansas, improvements to Highway 72 are critical to meeting the transportation needs of our residents, businesses, and visitors. Congressman Womack's leadership and advocacy on behalf of our city have helped make this important project a reality. The funding will enhance traffic flow, improve safety for motorists and pedestrians, and support the continued economic development of our community for years to come. We greatly appreciate Congressman Womack's commitment to Northwest Arkansas and his partnership in addressing the infrastructure needs of growing communities like Pea Ridge. This project is a testament to what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal leaders work together toward a common goal.\u201d\n\nBenton County received $2.1 million for the construction of a new fire and EMS station in Avoca.\n\nNortheast Benton County (NEBCO) Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rob Taylor said, \"Northeast Benton County FIRE-EMS greatly appreciates Congressman Womack's help in securing funding to build and equip an EMS station in the city of Avoca that will greatly help reduce response time to the citizens of Northeast Benton County. Benton County is one of the fastest growing areas in the US. This funding will allow us to finalize our project and stay ahead of the major growth period. Without this investment, this project would not be possible since our funding comes from dues-paying members and fundraisers. Again, thank you, Congressman Womack.\"\n\nThe city of Bentonville received $12.75 million for road improvements.\n\nBentonville Mayor Stephanie Orman said, \"Investing in transportation infrastructure is essential to ensuring growing communities remain connected, accessible, and able to meet the demands of continued growth. This project will improve mobility, strengthen connectivity, and support the long-term transportation needs of Bentonville residents and businesses. We appreciate Congressman Womack's leadership and commitment to Northwest Arkansas. His work to advance projects like this helps cities like Bentonville prepare for continued growth, remain competitive, and maintain the quality of life that attracts people and investment to our region.\u201d\n\nThe city of Cave Springs received $9 million for water system improvements.\n\nCave Springs Mayor Randall Noblett said, \"We are very thankful for Congressman Womack and his team\u2019s hard work in securing funding for a new water tower. The city of Cave Springs is a fast-growing city, operating one of Arkansas\u2019s largest water systems without a tower. This creates a regional strain on the system for the city that supplies water to our residents and other cities. We are grateful for Congressman Womack\u2019s support of this essential infrastructure project, which is critical in providing for the current and future needs of the Cave Springs Water Utility.\"\n\nCommunity Clinic received $1.026 million to renovate and modernize the Springdale Dental Clinic.\n\nCommunity Clinic President and CEO Judd Semingson said, \"A healthy community starts with healthy people\u2014and oral health is far more connected to overall wellbeing than most people realize. From cardiovascular health to diabetes management to childhood development, a healthy mouth matters deeply to the whole body. This investment allows Community Clinic to expand dental care and imaging for a greater impact to Northwest Arkansas, strengthening the full continuum of care our community counts on. We are very appreciative to Congressman Womack for his commitment to the health and vitality of this region. Because of this opportunity, more families across Northwest Arkansas will have access to the preventive and restorative dental care that keeps people healthy, productive, and thriving for years to come.\"\n\nThe city of Dyer received $5 million for water system improvements.\n\nDyer Mayor Lynn Hubbard said, \u201cThis funding will help us greatly to improve our water infrastructure within the city of Dyer. In my conversation with Congressman Womack last fall, he emphasized his commitment to helping rural communities in Arkansas, and his work to secure this funding reflects the kind of leader he is. I want to thank Congressman Womack and his team for their hard work in securing this funding for our water utility.\u201d\n\nThe city of Gentry received $12 million for water system improvements.\n\nGentry Mayor Kevin Johnston said, \u201cOn behalf of the Gentry community, I want to thank Congressman Womack for his support and for recognizing the significance of wastewater system improvements and the positive impact they will have on our region. These improvements will expand the capacity of our collection and treatment infrastructure, help to address the housing shortage crisis, lessen the impact of rate increases, and improve water quality within the Third District and beyond. Because of this support, our community will continue to grow and better the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas.\"\n\nThe city of Green Forest received $6.838 million for water system improvements.\n\nGreen Forest Mayor Jerry Carlton said, \u201cA huge thanks to Congressman Womack and all of his staff for securing funding for our growing infrastructure needs. With this funding, we will be able to align our aging water and sewer systems with our current needs and accommodate future growth in this fast-growing part of the state. This funding also ensures our water system stays safe for public use and that the sewer system stays in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations. Thank you once again, Congressman, for fighting for small towns.\u201d\n\nThe city of Lincoln received $675,000 for water system improvements.\n\nLincoln Mayor Doug Hutchens said, \"The city of Lincoln would like to thank Congressman Womack for his support of a crucial infrastructure improvement in our community. This sewer rehabilitation project will provide increased sewer capacity for our wastewater plant as we prepare for the anticipated growth in our region. Receiving these federal funds would help alleviate a financial strain and move us one step closer to replacing an aging wastewater system. I appreciate Womack\u2019s staff and their time and effort put in to supporting the various communities in our great state.\"\n\nThe city of Lowell received $1 million for a food bank initiative.\n\nPresident and CEO of Northwest Arkansas Food Bank in Lowell Taylor Speegle said, \"We are grateful to Congressman Womack for his leadership and support of Northwest Arkansas families. As our region continues to grow, so does the need for a reliable food supply during emergencies and natural disasters. This investment would help ensure the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank can continue providing food to our neighbors when they need it most, even during extended power outages. We appreciate Congressman Womack's commitment to strengthening our community's emergency preparedness and food security infrastructure.\u201d\n\nMadison County received $6 million for water system improvements.\n\nMadison County Judge Larry D. Garrett said, \"Madison County is so thankful to be receiving funding for a water project in the western part of our county around Hindsville through Community Project Funding. This investment will allow for the growth that we know is coming but could not afford to fund. We appreciate Congressman Womack and his efforts to make infrastructure available.\"\n\nThe Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority received $9 million for its western concourse expansion.\n\nCEO of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport Aaron Burkes said, \u201cWe are incredibly grateful for Congressman Womack\u2019s continued support of Northwest Arkansas National Airport and the Western Concourse project. This funding would represent a meaningful investment in the future of XNA and in the continued growth of Northwest Arkansas. As our region grows, so does the need for expanded airport capacity, improved passenger amenities, and infrastructure that supports long-term economic development. We appreciate Congressman Womack\u2019s leadership in helping move this important project forward.\u201d\n\nThe NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) received $4.5 million for campus infrastructure improvements.\n\nNorthWest Arkansas Community College President Dr. Dennis C. Rittle said, \u201cNorthWest Arkansas Community College is grateful to Congressman Steve Womack for his long-standing support of the college and the communities we serve. The Eagle Way Tunnel and the bike and pedestrian trails on the NWACC campus will provide a safe connection point between the Razorback Greenway and trails in Bentonville to the Rogers Railyard Loop and trails in Rogers. The improved multi-modal transportation connectivity will be transformative and unifying for the college and the region. Congressman Womack, thank you for your unwavering support to the college and this region, the place we call home!\u201d\n\nSpringdale Water Utilities received $4 million for water system improvements.\n\nExecutive Director of the Springdale Water Utilities Heath Ward said, \u201cOn behalf of the Springdale Water Utilities, the Water and Sewer Commission, and the city Of Springdale, we are grateful to Congressman Womack for this funding opportunity. As our region grows at a rapid pace, the demand for improved infrastructure is critical. The funding will assist in our ability to build a more robust water system that will safely serve future residents on the eastern side of Springdale. As the city expands eastward, the demand and need for safe and plentiful water is more important than ever. This funding, coupled with local dollars, will enhance our ability to grow in a responsible manner and have a positive impact on the community and others we also serve just outside our city limits. This includes the cities of Lowell, Johnson, Elm Springs, and parts of Washington and Benton counties. It will have a regional impact.\u201d\n\nThe University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) received $2.5 million for improvements to their workforce training center at the Northwest Regional Campus.\n\nUAMS Chancellor C. Lowry Barnes, M.D. said, \u201cOn behalf of UAMS, I want to thank Congressman Steve Womack for his steadfast support of our mission and for championing this funding, which will allow us to renovate and modernize classroom and workforce training spaces on our Northwest Arkansas campus. These improvements will expand classroom capacity, enhance instructional technology, and create innovative learning environments that strengthen our ability to educate and train future healthcare professionals. Modern learning spaces equipped with advanced technology are essential to preparing students for today\u2019s rapidly evolving healthcare environment. This federal investment will help us meet the growing workforce needs of Northwest Arkansas and communities across our state.\u201d\n\nThe city of Van Buren received $5 million for bridge improvements.\n\nVan Buren Mayor Joe Hurst said, \u201cCongressman Womack has consistently stepped up to help our district, and the funds he has secured to repair the Flat Rock Creek Bridge in Van Buren is another example of his outstanding efforts. This bridge is essential to our city as thousands of vehicles travel on it daily. These federal funds will help support small businesses and improve community safety and economic development. Van Buren is grateful to Congressman Womack for his continual support.\u201d\n\nThe city of Winslow received $1.28 million for water system improvements.\n\nWinslow Mayor Randy Jarnagan said, \u201cWorking with Congressman Womack and his staff has been a great opportunity for the City of Winslow's water system. This funding will allow us to totally refurbish all three of our forty-year-old potable water tanks so we can continue to provide clean water to our citizens at a reasonable cost. We appreciate Congressman Womack's continued interest in our town and this project.\u201d\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-19T06:50:32Z", "2026-06-19T06:53:40Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-bessent-investigate-airwallex-for-ties-to-communist-china", "Cotton to Bessent: Investigate Airwallex for Ties to Communist China", "2026-06-17", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 17, 2026\n\nCotton to Bessent: Investigate Airwallex for Ties to Communist China\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent requesting the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to investigate Communist Chinese investment in Airwallex. Airwallex is a cross-border payment platform that processes highly sensitive data for major American companies.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cLeft unchecked, Airwallex has been doubling down. It intends to acquire a US banking license. It holds about 90 financial licenses across 50 markets and has bought three businesses since September 2025, including a financial data platform this month. Each acquisition pulls more American data within reach of the Chinese communists. CFIUS has jurisdiction over foreign investment in U.S. businesses that hold sensitive personal data of Americans. I urge it to examine the Chinese investments in Airwallex through its non-notified transaction process and conduct a full review of any transaction, bank acquisition, company purchase, or data-rich investment that deepen Airwallex\u2019s footprint. If the review confirms the risk, CFIUS should seek the company\u2019s divestment of the Chinese stakes, as it did with StayNTouch and PatientsLikeMe. At a minimum, CFIUS should impose binding conditions that end China-based access to American data and require independent audits.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJune 17, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Scott Bessent\n\nSecretary of the Treasury\n\nU.S. Department of the Treasury\n\n1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20220\n\nDear Secretary Bessent,\n\nI write to request the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) open a national security review of Chinese investment in Airwallex, a payments platform that maintains sensitive data on US citizens. In December, I asked the Department of Justice to conduct their own investigation.\n\nAirwallex operates as a U.S. money transmitter inside major American corporate payment and workforce management platforms, processing Social Security numbers, dates of birth, payroll records, and travel patterns for leading American artificial intelligence labs and defense contractors. Airwallex sits unseen in the backend of payment systems Americans use every day.\n\nWhile Airwallex markets itself as an Australian company, its ties to Communist China run deep. Tencent and HongShan reportedly hold a combined stake of more than 20 percent. The Department of Defense kept Tencent on its list of Chinese military companies released earlier this month. About 40 percent of Airwallex employees work in China, all of whom are legally required to covertly assist Chinese intelligence services under China\u2019s National Intelligence Law. Airwallex admits that American data-security rules, which ban sending Americans\u2019 sensitive data to countries of concern, drove its decision to move more than 100 employees out of China. That admission concedes what matters. The relocated positions were security chokepoints inside China. A company that keeps 40 percent of its workforce in China does not confine those chokepoints to 100 desks.\n\nLeft unchecked, Airwallex has been doubling down. It intends to acquire a US banking license. It holds about 90 financial licenses across 50 markets and has bought three businesses since September 2025, including a financial data platform this month. Each acquisition pulls more American data within reach of the Chinese communists. CFIUS has jurisdiction over foreign investment in U.S. businesses that hold sensitive personal data of Americans. I urge it to examine the Chinese investments in Airwallex through its non-notified transaction process and conduct a full review of any transaction, bank acquisition, company purchase, or data-rich investment that deepen Airwallex\u2019s footprint. If the review confirms the risk, CFIUS should seek the company\u2019s divestment of the Chinese stakes, as it did with StayNTouch and PatientsLikeMe. At a minimum, CFIUS should impose binding conditions that end China-based access to American data and require independent audits.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-bessent-investigate-airwallex-for-ties-to-communist-china/", "Cotton to Bessent: Investigate Airwallex for Ties to Communist China", "2026-06-17", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 17, 2026\n\nCotton to Bessent: Investigate Airwallex for Ties to Communist China\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent requesting the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to investigate Communist Chinese investment in Airwallex. Airwallex is a cross-border payment platform that processes highly sensitive data for major American companies.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cLeft unchecked, Airwallex has been doubling down. It intends to acquire a US banking license. It holds about 90 financial licenses across 50 markets and has bought three businesses since September 2025, including a financial data platform this month. Each acquisition pulls more American data within reach of the Chinese communists. CFIUS has jurisdiction over foreign investment in U.S. businesses that hold sensitive personal data of Americans. I urge it to examine the Chinese investments in Airwallex through its non-notified transaction process and conduct a full review of any transaction, bank acquisition, company purchase, or data-rich investment that deepen Airwallex\u2019s footprint. If the review confirms the risk, CFIUS should seek the company\u2019s divestment of the Chinese stakes, as it did with StayNTouch and PatientsLikeMe. At a minimum, CFIUS should impose binding conditions that end China-based access to American data and require independent audits.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJune 17, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Scott Bessent\n\nSecretary of the Treasury\n\nU.S. Department of the Treasury\n\n1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20220\n\nDear Secretary Bessent,\n\nI write to request the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) open a national security review of Chinese investment in Airwallex, a payments platform that maintains sensitive data on US citizens. In December, I asked the Department of Justice to conduct their own investigation.\n\nAirwallex operates as a U.S. money transmitter inside major American corporate payment and workforce management platforms, processing Social Security numbers, dates of birth, payroll records, and travel patterns for leading American artificial intelligence labs and defense contractors. Airwallex sits unseen in the backend of payment systems Americans use every day.\n\nWhile Airwallex markets itself as an Australian company, its ties to Communist China run deep. Tencent and HongShan reportedly hold a combined stake of more than 20 percent. The Department of Defense kept Tencent on its list of Chinese military companies released earlier this month. About 40 percent of Airwallex employees work in China, all of whom are legally required to covertly assist Chinese intelligence services under China\u2019s National Intelligence Law. Airwallex admits that American data-security rules, which ban sending Americans\u2019 sensitive data to countries of concern, drove its decision to move more than 100 employees out of China. That admission concedes what matters. The relocated positions were security chokepoints inside China. A company that keeps 40 percent of its workforce in China does not confine those chokepoints to 100 desks.\n\nLeft unchecked, Airwallex has been doubling down. It intends to acquire a US banking license. It holds about 90 financial licenses across 50 markets and has bought three businesses since September 2025, including a financial data platform this month. Each acquisition pulls more American data within reach of the Chinese communists. CFIUS has jurisdiction over foreign investment in U.S. businesses that hold sensitive personal data of Americans. I urge it to examine the Chinese investments in Airwallex through its non-notified transaction process and conduct a full review of any transaction, bank acquisition, company purchase, or data-rich investment that deepen Airwallex\u2019s footprint. If the review confirms the risk, CFIUS should seek the company\u2019s divestment of the Chinese stakes, as it did with StayNTouch and PatientsLikeMe. At a minimum, CFIUS should impose binding conditions that end China-based access to American data and require independent audits.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-cortez-masto-introduce-bill-to-accelerate-energy-projects-stalled-by-red-tape", "Cotton, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Accelerate Energy Projects Stalled By Red Tape", "2026-06-16", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 16, 2026\n\nCotton, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Accelerate Energy Projects Stalled By Red Tape\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) today introduced bipartisan legislation to cut bureaucratic red tape that is often used to unnecessarily delay energy projects. The Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets (FREEDOM) Act would eliminate excessive litigation against fully permitted energy projects.\n\n\u201cEndless lawsuits delay vital energy projects, resulting in higher energy prices for Arkansans. My bill will eliminate bureaucratic red tape to streamline energy projects,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, energy projects across the country have been slowed by bureaucracy. The bipartisan FREEDOM Act is a critical first step in slashing this unnecessary red tape so we can meet the energy needs of the future and unlock America\u2019s full potential,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets (FREEDOM) Act would:\n\nEmpower project sponsors to file court petitions with expedited review.\n\nBan federal agencies from revoking permits, issuing stop-work orders, or halting construction on fully permitted projects that do not meet a narrow set of extreme circumstances.\n\nEmpower project sponsors to hire qualified contractors to complete administrative work at no cost to the project when non-negotiable timelines are missed by agencies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-17T06:49:24Z", "2026-06-17T06:50:53Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-cortez-masto-introduce-bill-to-accelerate-energy-projects-stalled-by-red-tape/", "Cotton, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Accelerate Energy Projects Stalled By Red Tape", "2026-06-16", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 16, 2026\n\nCotton, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Accelerate Energy Projects Stalled By Red Tape\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) today introduced bipartisan legislation to cut bureaucratic red tape that is often used to unnecessarily delay energy projects. The Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets (FREEDOM) Act would eliminate excessive litigation against fully permitted energy projects.\n\n\u201cEndless lawsuits delay vital energy projects, resulting in higher energy prices for Arkansans. My bill will eliminate bureaucratic red tape to streamline energy projects,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, energy projects across the country have been slowed by bureaucracy. The bipartisan FREEDOM Act is a critical first step in slashing this unnecessary red tape so we can meet the energy needs of the future and unlock America\u2019s full potential,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets (FREEDOM) Act would:\n\nEmpower project sponsors to file court petitions with expedited review.\n\nBan federal agencies from revoking permits, issuing stop-work orders, or halting construction on fully permitted projects that do not meet a narrow set of extreme circumstances.\n\nEmpower project sponsors to hire qualified contractors to complete administrative work at no cost to the project when non-negotiable timelines are missed by agencies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410820", "From the Front: June 12, 2026", "2026-06-12", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "From the Front Newsletters\nFrom the Front: June 12, 2026\nShare on Facebook\nShare on X\nPrint this Page\nShare by Email\nWashington,\r\n      June 12, 2026\nClick here to read this edition.\nRead more.\nJOIN MY EMAIL LIST\nSUBSCRIBE", 1, "2026-06-17T06:49:24Z", "2026-06-17T06:50:53Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410818", "Womack Slams Democrats for Blocking FISA Extension", "2026-06-11", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014June 11, 2026\u2026Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today released the following statement after Democrats blocked the passage of H.R. 9238 to extend the authorities of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through July 2, 2026. FISA Section 702 authorities expire on June 12, 2026.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cIt is unconscionable that lawmakers would choose to let such a critical tool of the U.S. intelligence community lapse when we are in the midst of a conflict overseas, preparing to host foreign nationals for the World Cup, and on the cusp of our 250th birthday celebration. Our adversaries around the world who are plotting to do harm to our nation and citizens are celebrating, and I pray we do not reap the consequences that these nefarious actors believe we deserve. Congress must put aside their spiteful and extraneous disputes and restore FISA Section 702 authorities expeditiously\u2014our national security counts on it.\u201d\n\nSection 702 allows the U.S. government to collect the electronic communications of foreign nationals overseas who raise reasonable intelligence concerns. Section 702 cannot be used to target American citizens.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-12T06:37:16Z", "2026-06-12T06:39:00Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-crack-down-on-biological-smuggling", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Biological Smuggling", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 10, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Biological Smuggling\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation to crack down on biological smuggling. The Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act would impose tough, unavoidable mandatory minimum sentences on individuals who illegally import biological agents.\n\nThis follows the Department of Justice\u2019s charging two foreign-national researchers at the National Institute of Health (NIH) with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox virus into the United States.\n\n\u201cIllegally smuggling dangerous viruses into our country threatens the health and safety of all Americans. My bill would increase the punishment for anyone who commits this heinous crime,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act would:\n\nImpose a 20-year mandatory minimum for the smuggling (or attempted smuggling) of any biological agent or toxin (as defined in 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 178, which includes monkeypox virus and other select agents) \u2014 whether committed by a lone actor or as part of a conspiracy.\n\nImpose a 20-year mandatory minimum for conspiracy to smuggle such agents.\n\nImpose a 5-year mandatory minimum for making false statements to federal agents in connection with the smuggling, importation, declaration, or permitting of biological agents.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-11T06:38:38Z", "2026-06-11T06:41:07Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-doj-investigate-communist-china-influence-on-data-center-development", "Cotton to DOJ: Investigate Communist China Influence on Data Center Development", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 10, 2026\n\nCotton to DOJ: Investigate Communist China Influence on Data Center Development\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting an investigation into the efforts of foreign adversaries, including Communist China, to manipulate U.S. policy and public opinion on data centers. AI infrastructure is vital to maintaining America\u2019s AI advantage, an economic and national security priority.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cI write requesting the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigate foreign influence efforts targeting the buildout of American AI infrastructure. Alarming reports indicate that a network of foreign actors, led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is attempting to manipulate U.S. policy and public opinion on data centers. Maintaining America\u2019s AI advantage is vital to American economic strength, diplomacy, national security, and military power. Americans certainly have valid concerns about potential rising energy costs and strains on natural resources related to data centers, and we should implement common sense regulations and legislation to protect communities from adverse effects. But we can\u2019t allow any effort by foreign adversaries to extort these fears and undermine our technological development.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJune 10, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Todd Blanche\n\nActing Attorney General\n\nU.S. Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Ave NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20530\n\nDear Mr. Blanche,\n\nI write requesting the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigate foreign influence efforts targeting the buildout of American AI infrastructure. Alarming reports indicate that a network of foreign actors, led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is attempting to manipulate U.S. policy and public opinion on data centers. Maintaining America\u2019s AI advantage is vital to American economic strength, diplomacy, national security, and military power. Americans certainly have valid concerns about potential rising energy costs and strains on natural resources related to data centers, and we should implement common sense regulations and legislation to protect communities from adverse effects. But we can\u2019t allow any effort by foreign adversaries to extort these fears and undermine our technological development.\n\nA recent report uncovers a multi-year campaign waged across multiple vectors of foreign influence. Among them is a network of U.S. nonprofits funded by Neville Roy Singham, a Shanghai-based American expatriate under U.S.-government scrutiny for his ties to the Chinese Communists. For years, Singham\u2019s network has been producing content opposing the development of American AI infrastructure, and various investigations have found that the Chinese government is the network\u2019s ultimate paymaster. All while the Chinese government promotes its own AI ambitions at home, where sentiments are overwhelmingly pro-technology.\n\nForeign-funded charitable entities tied to this campaign have reportedly funneled more than $2 billion into U.S. advocacy organizations, with a significant portion going to groups that are driving the campaign against U.S. data centers and influencing policymakers. Just one month ago, Senator Bernie Sanders hosted a 75-minute panel on \u201cthe existential threat of AI\u201d where two of the four panelists were Chinese government affiliates. This included a professor from Tsinghua University, a crown jewel of China\u2019s Military-Civil Fusion strategy and a host to multiple defense research laboratories.\n\nSeveral of these matters are already under congressional review. Yet no entity in the network has been charged under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). I therefore request that the DOJ launch a full investigation into these matters.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-11T06:38:38Z", "2026-06-11T06:41:07Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-crack-down-on-biological-smuggling/", "Cotton Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Biological Smuggling", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 10, 2026\n\nCotton Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Biological Smuggling\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation to crack down on biological smuggling. The Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act would impose tough, unavoidable mandatory minimum sentences on individuals who illegally import biological agents.\n\nThis follows the Department of Justice\u2019s charging two foreign-national researchers at the National Institute of Health (NIH) with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox virus into the United States.\n\n\u201cIllegally smuggling dangerous viruses into our country threatens the health and safety of all Americans. My bill would increase the punishment for anyone who commits this heinous crime,\u201d said Senator Cotton.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act would:\n\nImpose a 20-year mandatory minimum for the smuggling (or attempted smuggling) of any biological agent or toxin (as defined in 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 178, which includes monkeypox virus and other select agents) \u2014 whether committed by a lone actor or as part of a conspiracy.\n\nImpose a 20-year mandatory minimum for conspiracy to smuggle such agents.\n\nImpose a 5-year mandatory minimum for making false statements to federal agents in connection with the smuggling, importation, declaration, or permitting of biological agents.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-doj-investigate-communist-china-influence-on-data-center-development/", "Cotton to DOJ: Investigate Communist China Influence on Data Center Development", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "page_html", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601\n\nJune 10, 2026\n\nCotton to DOJ: Investigate Communist China Influence on Data Center Development\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting an investigation into the efforts of foreign adversaries, including Communist China, to manipulate U.S. policy and public opinion on data centers. AI infrastructure is vital to maintaining America\u2019s AI advantage, an economic and national security priority.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cI write requesting the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigate foreign influence efforts targeting the buildout of American AI infrastructure. Alarming reports indicate that a network of foreign actors, led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is attempting to manipulate U.S. policy and public opinion on data centers. Maintaining America\u2019s AI advantage is vital to American economic strength, diplomacy, national security, and military power. Americans certainly have valid concerns about potential rising energy costs and strains on natural resources related to data centers, and we should implement common sense regulations and legislation to protect communities from adverse effects. But we can\u2019t allow any effort by foreign adversaries to extort these fears and undermine our technological development.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJune 10, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Todd Blanche\n\nActing Attorney General\n\nU.S. Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Ave NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20530\n\nDear Mr. Blanche,\n\nI write requesting the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigate foreign influence efforts targeting the buildout of American AI infrastructure. Alarming reports indicate that a network of foreign actors, led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is attempting to manipulate U.S. policy and public opinion on data centers. Maintaining America\u2019s AI advantage is vital to American economic strength, diplomacy, national security, and military power. Americans certainly have valid concerns about potential rising energy costs and strains on natural resources related to data centers, and we should implement common sense regulations and legislation to protect communities from adverse effects. But we can\u2019t allow any effort by foreign adversaries to extort these fears and undermine our technological development.\n\nA recent report uncovers a multi-year campaign waged across multiple vectors of foreign influence. Among them is a network of U.S. nonprofits funded by Neville Roy Singham, a Shanghai-based American expatriate under U.S.-government scrutiny for his ties to the Chinese Communists. For years, Singham\u2019s network has been producing content opposing the development of American AI infrastructure, and various investigations have found that the Chinese government is the network\u2019s ultimate paymaster. All while the Chinese government promotes its own AI ambitions at home, where sentiments are overwhelmingly pro-technology.\n\nForeign-funded charitable entities tied to this campaign have reportedly funneled more than $2 billion into U.S. advocacy organizations, with a significant portion going to groups that are driving the campaign against U.S. data centers and influencing policymakers. Just one month ago, Senator Bernie Sanders hosted a 75-minute panel on \u201cthe existential threat of AI\u201d where two of the four panelists were Chinese government affiliates. This included a professor from Tsinghua University, a crown jewel of China\u2019s Military-Civil Fusion strategy and a host to multiple defense research laboratories.\n\nSeveral of these matters are already under congressional review. Yet no entity in the network has been charged under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). I therefore request that the DOJ launch a full investigation into these matters.\n\nSincerely,\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410817", "Womack Votes to Fund Immigration Enforcement Agencies", "2026-06-09", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 June 9, 2026\u2026 Today, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) voted in support of S.2, the Secure America Act. This package includes $38.5 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and $26 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to fund operations for the next three years.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cOur federal immigration enforcement agencies carry out a crucial mission to protect our homeland and uphold the rule of law. To fulfill this work, they must be properly equipped at every level. Funding these agencies through budget reconciliation is not the ideal approach, but it has become the necessary one due to political grandstanding. In the future, I hope Congress can return to implementing the regular appropriations process to fund all critical government functions, especially those vital to our national security.\u201d\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-10T06:36:00Z", "2026-06-10T06:37:32Z"], ["https://hill.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10137", "RELEASE: HILL AWARDS LATEST GOLDEN FLEECE TO CMS", "2026-06-08", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "AR", "J. French Hill", "H001072", "hill.house.gov", "hill", "https://hill.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "HHS Inspector General reports show MA plans are misusing prior authorization, a practice used to pre-approve expensive care before it is provided, at the expense of seniors. In one study, 18% of denied claims were for services that already met coverage rules or had been previously approved. The yearly cost of insurance paperwork to the U.S. economy totals $31 billion, a portion of which comes from prior authorization filings and appeals for improper denials. CMS could reduce that amount and save taxpayers' money by fixing its prior authorization oversight.\n\nRep. Hill said, \"CMS failing to efficiently or appropriately use prior authorization is unacceptable. Medicare is one of our largest federal health care expenditures and increasingly strains our already difficult fiscal situation. Every dollar matters. So when the HHS IG finds that 18% of denied claims were improper, CMS deserves to be called out. Medicare exists to protect our seniors, and they are the ones who suffer most when the system fails. CMS needs to fix this now. Our seniors are counting on it.\"\n\nIn his letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Rep. Hill writes:\n\nDear Administrator Oz,\n\nI write today to inform you that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is this month\u2019s recipient of my Golden Fleece Award. I am awarding this to CMS because of its failure to properly oversee Medicare Advantage (MA) plans prior authorization practices.\n\nCMS is responsible for ensuring federal health care programs, including Medicare, operate smoothly. This duty is made even more important as seniors are increasingly choosing to enroll in privately managed MA plans. These plans can improve care coordination, reduce costs, and maintain or improve care.\n\nMA plans often use prior authorization, the practice of pre-approving certain complicated or expensive care before services are provided, to contain costs and cut down on fraud and abuse. However, I am concerned that some MA plans are misusing prior authorization in a way that harms Medicare and our seniors.\n\nSpecifically, I am concerned about reports from the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General (HHS OIG) showing that MA plans are failing to efficiently or appropriately use prior authorization. In one study, the HHS OIG found that 18% of denied claims were for services that met MA plan coverage rules or had already been approved through prior authorization. The report also identified multiple instances where MA plans claimed that records were lost, not properly linked, or software failed. I hope you agree with me that basic record-keeping failures should not be common, and that CMS has a duty to ensure plans prevent these kinds of issues.\n\nPrior authorization failures can delay care for seniors and create unnecessary burdens for health care providers. This should not be tolerated when taxpayer dollars are funding the MA plans responsible. Estimates suggest that prior authorization abuse or errors consume physician time, lead to adverse outcomes, and can even reduce productivity due to missed work.\n\nMore importantly, the impact on patients is severe. According to studies, prior authorization can lead to worse health outcomes for children and adults, including for behavioral care like opioid use disorder and even cancer treatments. In addition, delays, including time spent appealing denials, lead to worse health outcomes now and more expensive care later.\n\nThe economic cost of prior authorization is also striking. Research suggests that the yearly cost of insurance paperwork to physicians is $68,274, with a total cost to the U.S. economy of $31 billion. It is important to note that most of those costs fall on small, independent practices. Further, some portion of that $31 billion is spent on filing prior authorizations and appeals for improper denials. That money could be spent on better, or more care, but instead is essentially wasted. This kind of failure, which demonstrably harms patients Medicare is designed to protect, can be avoided.\n\nCMS must address the problem of inefficient or harmful prior authorization practices in Medicare. Should you require additional authority from Congress to conduct oversight of MA plans, I ask that you notify me. I look forward to working with you in the near future.\n\nSincerely,\n\nFrench Hill\n\nMember of Congress\n\nCC: Inspector General March Bell, Department of Health and Human Services.", 1, "2026-06-09T06:27:37Z", "2026-06-09T06:30:10Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 8920, "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 \"state\" = :p0 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "AR"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=AR", 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