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Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press

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1 if body text was successfully extracted
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bioguide_id
Bioguide ID of the member

250 rows where state = "AR" and year = 2021 sorted by date descending

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chamber 2

  • Senate 157
  • House 93

year 1

  • 2021 · 250 ✖

state 1

  • AR · 250 ✖

party 1

  • Republican 250
url title date ▲ year month party chamber state member_name bioguide_id domain scraper source date_source text has_text collected_at updated_at
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-braun-introduce-bill-to-curb-reliance-on-chinese-pharmaceuticals Cotton, Braun Introduce Bill to Curb Reliance on Chinese Pharmaceuticals 2021-12-15 2021 2021-12 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 December 15, 2021 Cotton, Braun Introduce Bill to Curb Reliance on Chinese Pharmaceuticals Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Mike Braun (R-Indiana) today introduced the Anyone But China Safe Drugs Act, or the ABC Safe Drug Act, legislation to track active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), prohibit pharmaceutical purchases from China, and create transparency within the medical supply chain. Bill text may be found here. “Shortages in the medical supply chain are a matter of life and death, and we cannot rely on China for our citizens’ survival. Our bill will encourage pharmaceutical production in friendly countries and end dependency on the Chinese Communist Party,” said Cotton. “The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated why we cannot continue to rely so heavily on communist China for lifesaving medications. I am proud to join Senator Cotton on this legislation that will ban the use of federal funds for the purchase of drugs manufactured in China and add more much-needed transparency to our drug supply chain,” said Braun. The ABC Safe Drug Act would: Require the Food and Drug Administration to create a registry of all drugs and corresponding APIs that are produced outside the United States and are determined to be critical to the health and safety of Americans. Require that the Department of Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and all other federally qualified health facilities purchase pharmaceutical products that have no APIs produced in China. This requirement will be phased in over two years. The FDA may issue waivers if the APIs are only available in China, however, no waivers may be issued after 2027. Require drug companies to list the APIs and their countries of origin on the labels of imported and domestically produced finished drug products. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-passage-of-the-ndaa Cotton Statement on Passage of the NDAA 2021-12-15 2021 2021-12 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 December 15, 2021 Cotton Statement on Passage of the NDAA Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act: “Democrats tried to use this defense bill to draft America’s daughters and force their radical social ideologies onto our troops. Thankfully, they failed, and this year’s defense bill largely does what it should: support and strengthen our troops. By increasing our defense budget, fully funding our nuclear weapons, giving the troops a raise, and investing substantially in our Navy, this bill is an important step to providing our military with the resources it needs to protect the United States. But there’s more work to do, and I’ll stay dedicated to supporting our troops and not letting Democrats use the military for left-wing social engineering.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-reacts-to-devastation-caused-by-storm Rep. Crawford Reacts to Devastation Caused by Storm 2021-12-11 2021 2021-12 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Washington — Today, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement in response to news that several tornadoes hit Northeast Arkansas. "Last night, vicious storms ravaged through many parts of the First District inflicting significant destruction and taking the lives of two innocent individuals in Monette. There are many reports of extensive damage across a multitude of areas, which will only become more clear as the sun rises today across the region. I want to thank the many first responders who courageously answered the numerous calls that were made last night. I also want to thank the team at KAIT led by Ryan Vaughan, who kept everyone safe and aware of the rapidly changing conditions. KAIT, along with many others, stayed on-air throughout making sure the public was informed and what to expect. My office will continue to assist those who have experienced the worst of these storms in any way we can. I ask that each of us pray for the families who lost loved ones and also prayers of thankfulness for those who always answer the call for help every hour of every day in situations such as this," said Rep. Crawford. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-bidens-crushing-inflation Cotton Statement on Biden’s Crushing Inflation 2021-12-10 2021 2021-12 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 December 10, 2021 Cotton Statement on Biden’s Crushing Inflation Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the growing inflation rate in the United States: “President Biden promised never to raise taxes on middle class and working-class Americans—President Biden lied. He allowed the cruelest tax of all, inflation, to skyrocket. Today, we learned that inflation is at the highest level in more than a generation. This is a direct result of President Biden’s trillion dollar spending binges, his appointment of an inexperienced and absentee Transportation Secretary who mangled our supply chains, and his anti-energy policies that have driven up the price of gas. The President should immediately reverse course, apologize for his undeniable and unforced failures, and end his extreme agenda.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-reacts-to-announcement-of-riceland-expansion Rep. Crawford Reacts to Announcement of Riceland Expansion 2021-12-08 2021 2021-12 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Jonesboro — Today, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement in response to Riceland food's newly announced expansion in both their Jonesboro and Stuttgart plants. The $13.2 million extension is expected to create 80 new jobs. "I could not be more proud to represent the farmers in Eastern Arkansas who work diligently to help feed the world. I applaud Riceland's ongoing innovation and expansion which is of vital importance to the continued success of the our state's rural economy and enables the next generation of farmers to prosper," said Rep. Crawford. Rep. Crawford currently serves as the vice ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee and was a Conferee for both the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) ###### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ndaa-delivers-win-arkansas-fourth-district NDAA Delivers a Win for Arkansas' Fourth District 2021-12-08 2021 2021-12 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON - Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) released the following statement. "Yesterday, I voted for the updated National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)," said Congressman Westerman. "As I anticipated, I'm happy to report that the harmful provisions creating Red Flag laws for members of our military and the inclusion of women in the draft were removed. This final version of the NDAA reverses President Biden's dangerous cuts to our defense spending, invests in overdue cybersecurity improvements to protect the Pentagon from foreign actors such as China, Russia, and North Korea, modernizes our military capabilities, including the nuclear triad, and decreases our reliance on China. It holds the Biden Administration accountable for its disastrous handling of our withdrawal from Afghanistan, requires an investigation into the CCP's involvement in the birth of COVID-19, holds China accountable for its human rights violations, and protects servicemembers who decide against taking the COVID-19 vaccine. This bill is a win for democracy and a wonderful example of bipartisanship at work. Our Fourth District neighbors who work in national defense industries, including the thousands of people who work in Camden and its surrounding businesses, will benefit from the 2021 NDAA, and I couldn't be prouder of my vote in favor of it." Background The NDAA: Fully funds the modernization of our nuclear triad, including the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent, for which the supply chain will go through Camden Highland Industrial Park. Invests in cybersecurity and advanced software for the Pentagon that is long overdue to protect from cyberattacks by malign actors such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Decreases our reliance on Chinese products and technology. The NDAA addresses this by phasing out the use of Chinese printed circuit boards in DoD-acquired equipment, preventing DoD from acquiring PPE from China, and requ… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-statement-on-rep-devin-nunes Rep. Crawford Statement on Rep. Devin Nunes 2021-12-06 2021 2021-12 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Washington — Today, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement in response to Ranking Member Nunes' retirement from Congress: "Devin Nunes is a patriot who always put America's national security first, and who consistently delivered for his constituents. He is also a friend and something of a mentor to me. On the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I saw firsthand how Devin conducted vigorous oversight of our Intelligence Community, and held Democrats to task when they politicized that important body. He monitored threats to our nation and developed effective policies to combat them. I wish him luck as he battles the Big Tech Monopolies that carry water for the Left in America." FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) ###### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-introduce-bill-targeting-palestinian-terror-payments Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill Targeting Palestinian Terror Payments 2021-12-06 2021 2021-12 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 December 6, 2021 Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill Targeting Palestinian Terror Payments Click Here to View Senator Cotton’s Remarks in Full. Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), along with twelve of his Senate colleagues, today introduced the Taylor Force Martyr Payment Prevention Act, legislation aimed at eliminating Palestinian “martyr payments.” The bill would deter foreign banks from making these payments by putting at risk their access to the United States financial system. A one-pager about the bill may be found here. Bill text may be found here. This evening, Senator Cotton and Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) held a press conference on the bill. They were joined by Stuart and Robbi Force, whose son Taylor Force was murdered by Palestinian terrorists during a trip to Israel. A video of the press conference may be found here. “Radical Islamic terrorists shouldn’t be rewarded for killing innocent people, and banks should be held responsible for processing any sort of ‘martyr payments.’ Our bill will build upon the Taylor Force Act to ensure Palestinian terrorists don’t benefit financially for committing these senseless murders,” said Cotton. “The 2018 Taylor Force Act was an important first step toward ending the Palestinian Authority‘s outrageous ‘pay-for-slay’ system that incentivizes deadly terrorist attacks against Israelis and Americans. Senator Cotton's bill will make important progress toward this goal by targeting the financial institutions that facilitate these so-called ‘martyr payments,’” said Republican Jewish Coalition National Chairman Norm Coleman. Joining Senator Cotton on the bill are Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Roy B… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-diplomatic-boycott-of-the-2022-winter-olympics Cotton Statement on Diplomatic Boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics 2021-12-06 2021 2021-12 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 December 6, 2021 Cotton Statement on Diplomatic Boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding President Biden’s announcement of a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing: “Today, the Biden administration announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. The President has once again opted for a half measure, when bold leadership was required. The United States should fully boycott the Genocide Games in Beijing. American businesses should not financially support the Chinese Communist Party and we must not expose Team USA to the dangers of a repugnant authoritarian regime that disappears its own athletes.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-voices-support-for-overturn-of-roe-v-wade Rep. Crawford Voices Support for Overturn of Roe v. Wade 2021-12-02 2021 2021-12 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Washington — Yesterday, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) gave remarks on the House floor in support of overturning Roe v. Wade. This week, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for Dobbs v. Jackson, which challenges Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban and could reverse the Supreme Court's past decision on the topic. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-action-from-doj-following-attack-in-waukesha Cotton Demands Action from DOJ Following Attack in Waukesha 2021-12-01 2021 2021-12 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 December 1, 2021 Cotton Demands Action from DOJ Following Attack in Waukesha Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers about how the Department of Justice will respond to the mass-murder attack in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where a career criminal was arrested for driving an SUV through a Christmas parade. In part, Senator Cotton wrote, “In October, you issued a memorandum to all United States Attorneys and to the FBI, directing them to bring a federal law enforcement presence to local school board meetings all across the country, despite a lack of any apparent federal crime or national outbreak of violence.” “Yet, while you seemed to have no hesitation to prioritize chilling free speech from concerned parents, neither you nor the Department of Justice appear to have even issued a public statement about the mass murder in Waukesha. You have also issued no statements about the lenient bail policies that appear to have allowed this attack to take place,” he continued. Text of the letter may be found here and below. Dear Attorney General Garland, I am writing regarding the recent mass-murder attack in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in which law enforcement arrested a career criminal for allegedly driving an SUV through a Christmas parade, killing at least six and injuring more than 60 others. The defendant in this case has spent more than two decades committing crimes, including a number of violent and sexual felonies, and had also reportedly shared anti-Semitic posts and called for violence against white people. Just three weeks before the attack in Waukesha, the same defendant was reportedly arrested for attacking his ex-girlfriend and running over her with his car, but he was released on bail of just $1,000. He was still out on bail at the time of the attack. In October, you issued a memorandum to all United States Attorneys and to the FBI, directing them to bring … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/11/25/2021/cotton-statement-on-thanksgiving Cotton Statement on Thanksgiving 2021-11-25 2021 2021-11 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 November 25, 2021 Cotton Statement on Thanksgiving Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on Thanksgiving: “400 years ago, our Pilgrim Fathers, who battled sorrow and starvation for the promise of freedom in a New World, joined together with the Wampanoag tribe for a celebration, which we know as the first Thanksgiving. That hardscrabble colony of brave and devout Christians has grown into a great continental nation that stretches from sea to shining sea and that has ascended into the heavens. This year, like every year, our exceptional nation has much for which to be grateful. From the Cotton family to yours, we wish you and your loved ones a happy Thanksgiving.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-rick-crawford-reacts-to-highway-63-addition-to-i-555 Rep. Rick Crawford Reacts to Highway 63 Addition to I-555 2021-11-23 2021 2021-11 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sarah Robertson (sara.robertson2@mail.house.gov), Destiny Robertson (Destiny.Robertson@mail.house.gov) Phone: 202.225.4076, 870.203.0540 Rep. Rick Crawford Reacts to Highway 63 Addition to I-555 11/23/2021 Jonesboro, AR – Today, Rep. Rick Crawford issued the following statement reacting to the Federal Highway Works Administration, along with Arkansas Department of Transportation, designating a portion of Highway 63 in Jonesboro as being a part of Interstate 555. This 4.5 mile segment will connection Highway 49 South/Southwest Drive and Highway 91/Dan Avenue to Interstate 55 and Memphis: "It's great to see another portion of I-555 completed and designated as interstate. I appreciate ARDOT and our local stakeholders coming together in 2015 to help me draft legislation to provide full Interstate designation for what was then US 63. This vital Interstate corridor plays a critical role in the economic prosperity of Craighead, Greene, and Poinsett Counties in Northeast Arkansas." ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-responds-to-house-passage-of-the-build-back-better-bill Rep. Crawford Responds to House Passage of the "Build Back Better” Bill 2021-11-19 2021 2021-11 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson ( Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov ) Rep. Crawford Responds to House Passage of the "Build Back Better" Bill 11/19/2021 Washington — Today, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement in response to the passage of the Biden-Harris Build Back Better (BBB) legislation, a 2,000 page bill no one has read and was written in secret. "The passage of this budget busting boondoggle means higher prices at the pump and supermarket, ugly utility bills this winter, and half a trillion dollars thrown at Bernie Sanders' Green New Deal, even as working families feel America is headed in the wrong direction. Congressional Democrats' fear of Nancy Pelosi clearly outweighs their concern for their own constituents. Biden and Harris promised us quiet competence, but have only delivered failure, socialism, and a weaker America." The BBB includes: $285 billion in tax cuts for millionaire homeowners $80 billion in new IRS funding to sic IRS investigators on American families Higher taxes on natural gas, hurting poultry producers and raising utility bills Mass amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants Ends work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients $400 billion in small business tax hikes Billions in "green" handouts for products made in communist China $12,000 to each wealthy consumer buying electric vehicles costing up to $70,000 Excludes the Hyde Amendment which is a historically bipartisan provision barring tax-payer funded abortions 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-reacts-passage-president-bidens-build-back-better-agenda Westerman Reacts to the Passage of President Biden's Build Back Better Agenda 2021-11-19 2021 2021-11 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON - Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5376, also known as President Biden's "Build Back Better" agenda. Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) released the following statement: "Today, Democrats in the House of Representatives passed President Biden's multi-trillion-dollar reconciliation bill designed to remake America in their image, giving the government control of American lives from the cradle to the grave,"said Congressman Westerman. "The last-minute Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score estimates this bill will increase the deficit by over $350 billion, but even more damaging are the threats to the foundations of our freedom by this bill's radical leftist policies. Joe Biden may consider this bill the hallmark of his presidency, but I consider it a black mark and a sad day for the American people. This bill will result in government intrusion, more taxes, higher prices, empty shelves, and wasted opportunities. Democrats are choosing to ignore the CBO's score, spending money we do not have to create programs the American people do not want, much less need." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-hinson-introduce-bill-to-provide-parental-leave-and-compensation-for-miscarriages-and-stillbirths Cotton, Hinson Introduce Bill to Provide Parental Leave and Compensation for Miscarriages and Stillbirths 2021-11-18 2021 2021-11 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 November 18, 2021 Cotton, Hinson Introduce Bill to Provide Parental Leave and Compensation for Miscarriages and Stillbirths Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) today introduced the Helping with Equal Access to Leave and Investing in Needs for Grieving for Mothers and Fathers Act, or HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act, to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to include the spontaneous loss of an unborn child as a qualifying medical condition for FMLA leave. The bill would also establish a tax credit for a woman that suffers the loss of a child in the womb. More information about the bill may be found here. Bill text may be found here. “No amount of money can heal the unexpected loss of a child, but parents must be given time to mourn. Our bill will ensure families are given the resources and support they need to recover,” said Cotton. “Expecting parents who endure a stillbirth, the loss of a baby after 20 weeks or more through a pregnancy, should be able to mourn their baby without the added stress of expensive medical bills. Our legislation will give families the time and resources to help them through this unimaginable loss,” said Hinson. The HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act mirrors a similar bill in Arkansas introduced by State Representative Les Eaves called Paisley’s Law, named in honor of his late granddaughter, Paisley, which was signed into law earlier this year. The Susan B. Anthony List and National Right to Life Committee support this bill. The HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act would: Amend the FMLA to include spontaneous loss of an unborn child as a qualified medical condition for FMLA leave and civil service employee leave. Women and their spouses would be entitled to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for loss of an unborn child. Spontaneous loss of an unborn child is defined in the bill as ‘the loss of a child in the womb… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delta-heritage-trail-awarded-20-million-dot-grant-arkansas-leaders Delta Heritage Trail Awarded $20 Million DOT Grant - Arkansas Leaders Applaud Award 2021-11-17 2021 2021-11 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Congressmen Bruce Westerman (AR-04) and Rick Crawford (AR-01) along with U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson applauded federal investment to complete the Delta Heritage Trail. The members released the following statements: "I am elated to help deliver this vital grant to the Arkansas Delta. These funds will complete the final stretch of the Delta Heritage Trail, encouraging economic growth by creating tourism opportunities for our delta communities. I am grateful to the Department of Transportation for awarding this significant grant to our state," said Westerman. "Our rich heritage and scenic landscapes make Arkansas the "Natural State" and draw lovers of the outdoors from across the nation. The Delta Heritage Trail provides a safe pathway for folks to enjoy the unique wildlife that can only be experienced in southeast Arkansas. This grant is critical to completing this long-awaited project and will further stimulate the local economy," Crawford said. "This investment in southeast Arkansas will connect communities, provide recreational opportunities, spark tourism and build economic momentum in the area. Thanks to the decades of dedication by local and state leaders, we were able to demonstrate the importance of this project that will greatly benefit communities in southeast Arkansas," Boozman said. "Completing the Delta Heritage Trail will both help preserve the important history of the Natural State and bring new jobs and opportunities to the Delta. I'm glad to see Arkansas receive such a meaningful investment in rural America," said Cotton. "This grant will achieve a goal 30-years in the making. The completion of the Delta Heritage trail will provide bikers and hikers yet another beautiful view of the Natural State and will highlight the beauty of The Delta. I appreciate the advocacy of our federal delegation in winning this grant. This is another great project to enhance tourism in southeast Arkansas," said Governor Asa Hu… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-announces-2021-congressional-app-challenge-winners Westerman Announces 2021 Congressional App Challenge Winners 2021-11-16 2021 2021-11 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) hosted a virtual reception announcing the winners of the Congressional App Challenge. Westerman issued the following statement: "Each year, I look forward to the annual Congressional App Challenge as a showcase of the incredible talent and creativity of the Fourth District's students," said Congressman Westerman. "This year's Challenge did not disappoint! Each app was an impressive display of ingenuity and I am confident that these students have bright futures ahead as they work to make their communities a better place. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to all who participated." Background Watch the full reception here. The Congressional App Challenge is an annual event in which middle and high school students across the country design and code their own original apps. The winning team from each congressional district is normally honored at an event in Washington, D.C., where they present their apps to attendees. This year, the Fourth District received 20 submissions from 50 students, and the winners were announced yesterday evening during a virtual event held on Zoom, due to COVID-19 restrictions The winners were chosen by a panel of 5 judges. The 2021 Fourth District top five teams are: First Place: Anna Womack and MacKenzie Bisswanger, from Harmony Grove High School, with their app, "Do Gooders." Second Place (tie): Landon Weaver, Carson Ford, and Seth Harper, from Dardanelle High School, with their app, "Helping Hands." Second Place (tie): Bao Pham and Thanh Tran, from Hot Springs Junior Academy, with her app, "HSSD Student HQ." Third Place: Lizbeth Flores-Fuentes, Leslie Mendez, and Dulce Gomez, from Dardanelle High School, with their app, "Munch Up." Fourth Place (tie): Gabriel Avila, Madyson Johnson, and Seth Felux, from Dardanelle High School, with their app, "TherAppy." Fourth Place (tie): Marcela Sierra, Nadia Alonso, and Anna Carranza, from Dardanelle High School, with their app, "Keeping Up." Fifth Place (tie): Madison… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-call-on-secretary-raimondo-to-blacklist-companies-that-provide-ai-technology-to-the-chinese-military Cotton, Colleagues Call on Secretary Raimondo to Blacklist Companies that Provide AI Technology to the Chinese Military 2021-11-16 2021 2021-11 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 November 16, 2021 Cotton, Colleagues Call on Secretary Raimondo to Blacklist Companies that Provide AI Technology to the Chinese Military Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo urging the Department of Commerce to blacklist Chinese Artificial Intelligence companies that help arm the People’s Liberation Army. In part, the senators wrote, “Despite the pressing need to restrict the PLA’s advancement in key technology areas, our government has done little to impede the flow of U.S. exports and investment to Chinese AI companies with PLA ties.” “Given these troubling gaps in the United States’ strategy to protect its core technologies, we urge BIS to emulate the Intelligence Community by identifying key American technologies that need to be safeguarded from the Chinese Communist Party,” the senators continued. Text of the letter may be found here and below. The Honorable Gina Raimondo Secretary Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20230 Dear Secretary Raimondo, We write to urge the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to follow the examples set by other U.S. government entities and identify core technologies essential to U.S. national security. We further urge BIS to take all steps necessary to prevent key technologies from falling into the hands of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). As you may be aware, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) recently identified five technology areas key to America’s strategic competition with China: artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, and autonomous systems. NCSC is using this framework to guide its efforts to prevent U.S. adversarie… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-from-garland-after-doj-raids-journalists-home Cotton Demands Answers from Garland after DOJ Raids Journalist’s Home 2021-11-15 2021 2021-11 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 November 15, 2021 Cotton Demands Answers from Garland after DOJ Raids Journalist’s Home Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers about the Department of Justice’s investigation into the disappearance of Ashley Biden’s diary. In part, Senator Cotton wrote, “The Department of Justice follows rules and regulations when investigating members of the news media. The regulations state the Department of Justice ‘views the use of certain law enforcement tools, including . . . search warrants to seek information from, or records of, non-consenting members of the news media as extraordinary measures, not standard investigatory practices.’” “Given the execution of these search warrants were not ‘standard investigatory practices,’ I have concerns about the origins of this investigation, the motivations of the investigations, and tactics used by your Department,” he continued. Text of the letter may be found here and below. The Honorable Merrick Garland U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530-0001 Dear Attorney General Garland, I am writing regarding recent reports of search warrants executed by the FBI on members of the news media in the course of investigating the alleged theft of Ashley Biden’s diary. Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that the FBI had executed search warrants on the homes of several individuals connected to media outlet Project Veritas, including its founder, journalist James O’Keefe. The Department of Justice follows rules and regulations when investigating members of the news media. The regulations state the Department of Justice “views the use of certain law enforcement tools, including . . . search warrants to seek information from, or records of, non-consenting members of the news media as extraordinary measures, not standard investigatory practices.” Given the execution… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-service-academy-session-canceled Rep. Crawford: Service Academy Session Canceled 2021-11-12 2021 2021-11 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Destiny Robertson (Destiny.Robertson@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford: Service Academy Session Canceled 11/12/2021 Jonesboro — Due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts requiring him to be in Washington D.C., Representative Rick Crawford is CANCELING his annual military service academy session that was scheduled for Monday, November 29th, 2021, at the Jacksonport State Park Visitor's Center, at 111 Avenue in Newport. For further information about being nominated for the Service Academies, you can call Sherrie Mitchell in the Jonesboro office at 870-203-0540. ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/11/11/2021/cotton-statement-on-veterans-day Cotton Statement on Veterans Day 2021-11-11 2021 2021-11 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 November 11, 2021 Cotton Statement on Veterans Day Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement in observance of Veterans Day: “Few titles are more prized or noble than that of veteran of the United States. The sacrifice of these exceptional men and women has ensured our nation’s strength, security, and success from one generation to the next. Our veterans deserve our unending gratitude and reverence. Today, we pay special tribute to their remarkable service.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-statement-infrastructure-bill-vote Westerman Statement on Infrastructure Bill Vote 2021-11-06 2021 2021-11 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Last night, the House passed the $1 trillion infrastructure bill. Congressman Bruce Westerman issued the following statement: "House Republicans have been ready to work across the aisle on much needed infrastructure development, but we were stonewalled at every turn," said Congressman Westerman. "The $1.2 trillion so-called Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, the largest such bill in history— even dwarfing an inflation adjusted FDR New Deal price tag— never had a hearing or a mark-up in a House committee. If it had, Americans might have found out that only about half of the bill has anything to do with infrastructure. The rest is wasteful spending on the Green New Deal and leftist priorities. Speaker Pelosi prohibited all 435 members of the House from making a single change to the bill. That's ridiculous. 435 members of Congress were elected to serve their constituents, not rubber stamp the $1.2 trillion whim of the Senate. Moreover, the passage of this bill is directly tied to the massive socialist spending bill that will be voted on in the upcoming days. These spending bills do not 'build back better' as Democrats have promoted. They will tear down our country and devastate our economy. I proudly voted no." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-introduces-legislation-to-prevent-taxpayer-funded-payments-to-illegal-immigrants Rep. Crawford Introduces Legislation to Prevent Taxpayer Funded Payments to Illegal Immigrants 2021-11-05 2021 2021-11 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson ( Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov ) Rep. Crawford Introduces Legislation to Prevent Taxpayer Funded Payments to Illegal Immigrants 11/5/2021 Washington — Today, Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) introduced legislation to prevent payments from the federal Judgement Fund from going to immigrants who illegally crossed the southern border. The Ending Payments to Non-American Citizens Act responds to multiple reports that the Biden administration intends to pay individuals who were separated from their family at the southern border upwards of $450,000 each. While President Biden rebuked the idea, Justice Department officials and lawyers representing many of these illegal immigrant litigants have contradicted the President's denouncement. Additionally, the President's spokesperson said that he is "perfectly comfortable" making settlement payments to these individuals who broke our laws. "This outrageous proposal is another example of the Biden Administration putting Americans last and incentivizing criminal behavior. Instead of dealing with the largest border crisis in American history, the President is determined to reward those who broke our nation's laws. American taxpayers do not want their money used to subsidize an apology for Obama-era policies," said Rep. Crawford. ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-khanna-colleagues-lead-bipartisan-effort-to-support-taiwans-standing-in-global-health-community Cotton, Khanna, Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Effort to Support Taiwan’s Standing in Global Health Community 2021-11-05 2021 2021-11 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 November 5, 2021 Cotton, Khanna, Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Effort to Support Taiwan’s Standing in Global Health Community Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Ro Khanna (D-California) introduced the U.S.-Taiwan Public Health Protection Act to establish a U.S.-Taiwan Infectious Disease Monitoring Center within the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to partner with Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Representative Michael Waltz (R-Florida) are co-sponsors of the bill. Bill text may be found here. “Beijing’s efforts to exclude Taiwan from the global health community have had deadly consequences. Our bill will ensure the United States has the resources it needs to monitor health threats emerging in the Indo-Pacific and will allow Taiwan to share its knowledge with the world,” said Cotton. “For too long, the United States has been myopically focused on traditional national security issues and it has hurt our ability to promptly respond to new threats like the COVID-19 pandemic. We must learn from countries like Taiwan that grasped the dangers of this pandemic early on and had success in suppressing it,” said Khanna. “By establishing a U.S.-Taiwan Infectious Disease Monitoring Center, Congress can help prevent future pandemics and ensure important knowledge sharing can take place between the U.S. and Taiwan.” “Taiwan’s response to the pandemic has been incredibly successful, and it is unacceptable that the Chinese government is excluding them from global efforts to combat infectious diseases,” said Cortez Masto. “This legislation will allow the U.S. to partner with Taiwan to safely monitor health threats and help prevent future pandemics.” “We should not be surprised that the Chinese Communist Party’s genocidal regime has willingly withheld information on the COVID-19 pandemic, causing devastat… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-klobuchar-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-competition-and-consumer-choice-online Cotton, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Competition and Consumer Choice Online 2021-11-05 2021 2021-11 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 November 5, 2021 Cotton, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Competition and Consumer Choice Online The Platform Competition and Opportunity Act will help stop anticompetitive mergers and acquisitions by dominant online platforms Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent monopolistic big tech firms from making killer acquisitions that harm competition and eliminate consumer choice. Bill text may be found here. A one-pager about the bill may be found here. “Big tech firms have bought up rivals to crush their competition, expand their monopolistic market share, and to harm working Americans. That’s bad for America. Under this bill, the largest tech monopolies will have the burden of proving that further acquisitions are lawful and good for the American people,”said Cotton. “Competition is critical to protecting workers and consumers and spurring innovation. But today, we’re increasingly seeing companies choose to buy their rivals rather than compete,” said Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation will put an end to those anticompetitive acquisitions by making it more difficult for dominant digital platforms to eliminate their competitors and enhance the platform’s market power. It’s past time to address our nation’s monopoly problem and modernize our antitrust laws for the digital economy.” “For years, American Principles Project has been urging Congress to do everything in its power to rein in the power of Big Tech. We are thrilled that Senator Cotton has taken the lead on this important issue. This bill will make it more difficult for these Big Tech companies to engage in predatory mergers and acquisitions, which will help promote a free and fair market where consumers benefit because innovation and competition are finally allowed to flourish. We encourage Republicans in both the House and Senate to take a serious look at … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-reacts-to-eu-tariff-announcement Rep. Crawford Reacts to EU Tariff Announcement 2021-11-03 2021 2021-11 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Reacts to EU Tariff Announcement 11/3/2021 Washington — This week, the United States announced that a deal was reached with the EU to remove 25% retaliatory tariffs on US rice. The EU placed the tariffs on U.S. imports in retaliation to the U.S. implementing Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum to combat China's steel dumping practices. The U.S. agreed to provide a duty-free quota for EU steel and aluminum but will keep the Section 232 tariffs in place for any EU steel or aluminum in excess of the quota in order to maintain some level of protection for US steel and aluminum producers. In response to the announcement, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement. "Manufacturing and agriculture are critical to our national security and play a vital role in keeping local rural economies alive. For far too long our nation's steel producers and farmers have been victims of unfair trade agreements that fail to protect their businesses from bad actors like China. I'm pleased to see that we were able to finalize a trade deal that will open new markets for our farmers while safeguarding the US steel sector." ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-announces-internships-for-state-offices Cotton Announces Internships for State Offices 2021-10-29 2021 2021-10 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 October 29, 2021 Cotton Announces Internships for State Offices Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today announced he is seeking interns for his state offices in Little Rock and Rogers. Internships will be offered in two sessions: January 18 – March 8 and March 14 – May 2. Interns will have the opportunity to help with the daily operations of Senator Cotton's office. Depending on their college requirements, students may be able to receive academic credit for their service. Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to state_internships@cotton.senate.gov and specify their desired office location and session before November 19, 2021. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-delivers-remarks-unveiling-arkansas-quartz Westerman Delivers Remarks at the Unveiling of Arkansas Quartz 2021-10-28 2021 2021-10 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congressman Bruce Westerman attended the unveiling of the Berns Quartz in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the largest quartz crystal specimen ever to go on public display. It weighs more than 8,000 pounds and stands six and one-half feet tall. The quartz was discovered at the Coleman Mine in Arkansas' Ouachita Mountains in 2016. "It is great to have a little piece of Arkansas in Washington, D.C. where visitors from all over the world can see the beauty of Arkansas and learn more about all our state has to offer," said Congressman Westerman."I am honored to witness the unveiling of such a magnificent specimen found right in our backyard. Arkansas is truly blessed with incredible resources. I know I speak for every Arkansan when I say I am so grateful to live in the Natural State!" Background: The Berns Quartz is among the largest examples of quartz specimens on display in any museum in America. At nearly 7 feet tall and more than 8,000 pounds in weight, the gigantic cluster of thousands of sparkling crystals stands in the front gallery, adjacent to the museum's historic north entrance. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-biden-plan-to-give-illegal-immigrants-hundreds-of-millions-in-cash Cotton Statement on Biden Plan to Give Illegal Immigrants Hundreds of Millions in Cash 2021-10-28 2021 2021-10 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 October 28, 2021 Cotton Statement on Biden Plan to Give Illegal Immigrants Hundreds of Millions in Cash Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after reports that the Biden administration intends to give illegal immigrants nearly $450,000 each, for a total of at least $1 billion overall. “It would be unthinkable to pay damages to a burglar who broke into your home for the ‘psychological trauma’ they endured during the crime. And yet the Biden administration wants to reward migrants who illegally entered our country with up to $450,000 each for just that reason. The Biden administration’s promises of citizenship and entitlement programs have already caused the worst border crisis in history—a huge cash reward will make it even worse. This is the height of insanity.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/biden-administration-wrong-about-evacuation-numbers-must-do-more Biden Administration Wrong About Evacuation Numbers, Must Do More 2021-10-22 2021 2021-10 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 October 22, 2021 Biden Administration Wrong About Evacuation Numbers, Must Do More Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the statement below after the State Department said that 363 US citizens remain in Afghanistan, 176 of whom want to leave. Previously, the Biden administration said that only approximately 100 Americans remaining in Afghanistan wanted to evacuate. “Unsurprisingly, the administration either miscalculated, didn’t care, or outright lied about the number of Americans President Biden left behind in Afghanistan. Despite continued evacuations, even more Americans remain now than the Biden administration estimated months ago, along with countless Afghan allies. President Biden must do more to rescue Americans trapped in a disaster of his own making.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-cassidy-condemn-biden-administration-for-naming-chinese-run-tiktok-as-us-cyber-games-sponsor Cotton, Cassidy Condemn Biden Administration for Naming Chinese-Run TikTok as U.S. Cyber Games Sponsor 2021-10-21 2021 2021-10 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 October 21, 2021 Cotton, Cassidy Condemn Biden Administration for Naming Chinese-Run TikTok as U.S. Cyber Games Sponsor Washington, D.C. – Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-Louisiana) released the following statement condemning the Biden administration for allowing Chinese state-owned TikTok to be named the founding sponsor of the U.S. Cyber Games. As part of the deal, TikTok Chief Security Officer Roland Cloutier will join representatives from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as members of the Cyber Games Advisory Board. “Allowing a Chinese state-sponsored data harvesting company to be the lead sponsor for the U.S. Cyber Games is another unbelievable demonstration of this administration’s incompetence. TikTok is required by Chinese law to share U.S. user data with the Chinese Communist Party. They have no business being anywhere near this event and the Biden administration needs to pull their sponsorship,” said the senators. Background Tik Tok is required by Chinese law to share its user data with the Chinese Communist Party. They are also currently the subject of a criminal investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a national security investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department and were recently fined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for violating the privacy of children. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-prevent-schools-from-concealing-gender-transitions-from-parents Cotton Introduces Bill to Prevent Schools from Concealing Gender Transitions from Parents 2021-10-21 2021 2021-10 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 October 21, 2021 Cotton Introduces Bill to Prevent Schools from Concealing Gender Transitions from Parents Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Empower Parents to Protect Their Kids Act, legislation that would prevent K-12 schools from performing a “gender transition” on children behind their parents’ backs. This bill would also empower parents to sue schools that violate this Act by hiding or withholding information about their child’s “transition.” Bill text may be found here. “Schools should never be allowed to impose radical, harmful ideologies on children—especially without parents’ knowledge and consent. My bill will protect students and ensure that parents are in control of their children’s education. Schools must remain institutions of education, not indoctrination camps where minors are manipulated and brainwashed,” said Cotton. This bill would ensure that all federally funded elementary school and secondary school employees abide by the following requirements regarding minor students: Receive parental consent before facilitating a student’s gender transition in any way. Do not withhold information from parents or coerce students to withhold information from their parents about their purported gender identity. Do not pressure parents or students to proceed with a gender transition. The American Principles Project, Heritage Action, The Ethics and Public Policy Center, and Parents Defending Education Action support this bill. Background: Public schools have adopted radical policies to allow students of any age to change their name, pronouns, gender identity, and even sex-based accommodations (e.g. locker rooms) without telling parents. Schools are deliberately hiding these changes from parents. The following are examples of these egregious policies: New Jersey’s statewide policy: “A school district shall accept a student’s asserted gender identity; parental consent is not requir… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-signs-letter-to-department-of-education-opposing-a-federal-vaccine-mandate-on-schools Rep. Crawford Signs Letter to Department of Education Opposing a Federal Vaccine Mandate on Schools 2021-10-20 2021 2021-10 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Signs Letter to Department of Education Opposing a Federal Vaccine Mandate on Schools 10/20/2021 Washington — Today, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) along with Reps Hill (AR-02), Westerman (AR-04), and Womack (AR-03). Sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona with the House Arkansas Delegation opposing a Federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate on public schools. The members released the following statements: "Like many parents, I have seen firsthand how COVID-19 has been used as an excuse to infringe upon the freedom of parents to make decisions for their children," said Rep. Crawford. "The needs of each child, family, and school district are different, and our leaders at the state and local level understand these nuances far better than federal bureaucrats. The administration's current plan is dismissive of these concerns and bulldozes the rights of state governments and individuals, creating more vaccine hesitancy as a result." "For the duration of the pandemic, we have trusted parents, schools, and states to make the best decisions for the children in their care," said Rep. Westerman. "A Federal vaccine mandate on schools is not only unnecessary, but it undermines the authority of parents and localities and risks further disruption of students' education. Arkansas has been an example to the nation on how to navigate this complex issue by prioritizing the safe reopening of schools while preserving patient privacy, parental rights, and individual liberty. I implore the Department of Education to honor the rights of parents and local school boards to make the decision that best suits their families and communities." "Education policies are best handled at the local level – not by Washington bureaucrats," said Rep. Womack. "We don't need the federal government inserting itself where it does not belong. Our school leaders and families are more than capable to work together and make choices that … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-brownley-introduce-national-dyslexia-awareness-month Westerman, Brownley Introduce National Dyslexia Awareness Month Resolution 2021-10-20 2021 2021-10 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Today, Congressional Dyslexia Caucus Co- Chairs Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced a resolution to designate October 2021 as National Dyslexia Awareness Month along with 16 original cosponsors. Westerman and Brownley released the following statements: "As co-chair of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus and spouse of a special education teacher, I understand how important dyslexia awareness and advocacy is to the students and families suffering from our nation's most common learning disability," said Congressman Westerman. "By raising awareness of dyslexia's challenges, I hope to help students, teachers, and parents take full advantage of the resources available to them." "I started my career in public service to help ensure that people with dyslexia, like my daughter, have the resources and support they need to succeed," said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. "By recognizing October as Dyslexia Awareness Month, we are raising awareness and focusing more attention on how to best identify and address dyslexia, so that individuals with dyslexia have the tools they need to live up to their fullest potential. I am proud to continue working with Congressman Westerman and my colleagues of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus to ensure dyslexia receives the attention it deserves." Background: While many parents and educators have recognized October as National Dyslexia Awareness Month for years, it is important for Congress to formally designate the month each year. This resolution represents the dedication of members of both parties in Congress to recognize and address the significant educational implications of dyslexia that affect one in five people in America. See the full text of the letter here. Full list of cosponsors: Bruce Westerman (R-AR) Julia Brownley (D-CA) Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) Larry Bucshon (R-IN) Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) Steven M. Palazzo (R-MS) Seth Moulton (D-MA) Eric Swalwell (D-CA) Earl L. "Buddy"… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-leads-letter-department-education-opposing-federal-vaccine Westerman Leads Letter to Department of Education Opposing a Federal Vaccine Mandate on Schools 2021-10-20 2021 2021-10 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Bruce Westerman led a letter to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona with the House Arkansas Delegation opposing a Federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate on public schools. The members released the following statements: "For the duration of the pandemic, we have trusted parents, schools, and states to make the best decisions for the children in their care," said Congressman Westerman. "A Federal vaccine mandate on schools is not only unnecessary, but it undermines the authority of parents and localities and risks further disruption of students' education. Arkansas has been an example to the nation on how to navigate this complex issue by prioritizing the safe reopening of schools while preserving patient privacy, parental rights, and individual liberty. I implore the Department of Education to honor the rights of parents and local school boards to make the decision that best suits their families and communities." "Education policies are best handled at the local level – not by Washington bureaucrats,"said Congressman Womack."We don't need the federal government inserting itself where it does not belong. Our school leaders and families are more than capable to work together and make choices that are best for students. Arkansas will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our children." "Like many parents, I have seen firsthand how COVID-19 has been used as an excuse to infringe upon the freedom of parents to make decisions for their children," said Rep. Crawford."The needs of each child, family, and school district are different, and our leaders at the state and local level understand these nuances far better than federal bureaucrats. The administration's current plan is dismissive of these concerns and bulldozes the rights of state governments and individuals, creating more vaccine hesitancy as a result." Background: See the full text of the letter here. The Biden Administration announced a series of COVID-19 vaccine mandates on federal government workers and pr… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-blackburn-colleagues-fight-for-free-speech-on-college-campuses Cotton, Blackburn, Colleagues Fight For Free Speech On College Campuses 2021-10-20 2021 2021-10 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 October 20, 2021 Cotton, Blackburn, Colleagues Fight For Free Speech On College Campuses Washington, D.C. – Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) launched the Senate Campus Free Speech Caucus to defend the rights of students on college campuses. This caucus is part of a larger bicameral effort alongside the Young America’s Foundation (YAF) to protect free speech. Cotton and Blackburn were joined by Senators Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), and John Boozman (R-Arkansas). In addition to the Senate Campus Free Speech Caucus, Senators Cotton and Blackburn introduced the Campus Free Speech Resolution of 2021 and Campus Free Speech Restoration Act. The Campus Free Speech Resolution of 2021 urges greater First Amendment protection at public universities. Senators Cotton and Blackburn introduced this legislation alongside Senators Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The Campus Free Speech Restoration Act would protect the First Amendment rights of students at public universities from improperly restrictive speech-codes. Senators Cotton and Blackburn introduced this legislation along with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and Mike Braun (R-Indiana). “Universities should encourage a variety of viewpoints—but today, colleges and students often silence classmates and faculty who disagree with ideas like Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project. Senator Blackburn and I started The Campus Free Speech Caucus to return free speech to higher education acros… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-pays-tribute-to-stone-county-honor-guard Rep. Crawford Pays Tribute to Stone County Honor Guard 2021-10-18 2021 2021-10 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Pays Tribute to Stone County Honor Guard 10/18/2021 Image Mountain View, AR — This past weekend, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) paid a visit to Stone Bank in Mountain View to honor Stone County's Honor Guard. Every year, Stone Bank holds a ceremony to honor a select group of veterans in the local community. This year, 16 veterans, all from the Stone County Honor Guard, were chosen to be acknowledged at the celebration. All 16 veterans will be given flags flown above the U.S. Capitol. Rep. Crawford has attended the event and delivered flags every year with the exceptions of 2018 and 2020, when the ceremony was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our veterans exemplify the best of our country, and their actions demonstrate the true meaning of sacrifice. It is an honor to be among their ranks and represent them in Washington DC. Ensuring our veterans are well cared for is the least we can do and should never be a political issue," said Crawford. ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-hagerty-demand-that-estevez-confirm-chinese-communist-party-threat Cotton, Hagerty Demand that Estevez Confirm Chinese Communist Party Threat 2021-10-14 2021 2021-10 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 October 14, 2021 Cotton, Hagerty Demand that Estevez Confirm Chinese Communist Party Threat Washington, D.C. – Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee) today wrote to Alan Estevez, nominee to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, demanding answers about his commitment to address the threat the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses to the United States. The senators wrote, “As your nomination proceeds for consideration before the entire United States Senate, we request that you provide written answers to the enclosed questions. Thank you for your attention to these important matters of national security. We look forward to hearing from you.” Text of the letter may be found here and below. Mr. Alan F. Estevez Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Designate United States Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Ave. NW Washington, DC 20230 Dear Mr. Estevez, As your nomination proceeds for consideration before the entire United States Senate, we request that you provide written answers to the enclosed questions. Thank you for your attention to these important matters of national security. We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Questions for Mr. Alan Estevez Note: When asked to make a commitment, please begin your written response with either a “Yes” or a “No.” 1. China threat briefings: (A)Prior to your possible confirmation, will you commit to receiving a briefing on China’s overseas technology-acquisition strategy from think tank experts working on these issues? Our offices are happy to recommend nonpartisan scholars at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, the American Enterprise Institute, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Center for a New American Security, or other think tanks. (B)If confirmed, will you commit to ensuring that Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) officials processing People’s Republic of China-relate… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-alerts-ustr-of-chinese-influence-in-latin-america Rep. Crawford Alerts USTR of Chinese Influence in Latin America 2021-10-13 2021 2021-10 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Alerts USTR of Chinese Influence in Latin America 10/13/2021 Washington — Today, Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) along with 12 of his colleagues sent a letter to Ambassador Tai asking for immediate attention to the growing influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in both Latin America and Caribbean trade and economic development. China has now surpassed the United States and is the largest non-continental trading partner for 54% of South America. This is a substantial increase from 20 years ago when China had few trade agreements in the region and little economic footprint. This recent increase of engagement in the Western Hemisphere is great cause for concern given the CCP's publicized strategy of becoming a world superpower and dominating the economic stage. This heightened economic activity arrives parallel to China's Belt & Road Initiative, which is the CCP's long-term commitment to investing in large-scale infrastructure projects all over the world, as well as CCP-sponsored companies working to dominate the 5G and public security space. The rising threat of CCP espionage and intellectual property theft has always been cause for concern, and the Biden Administration can no longer take for granted its sphere of influence – even within our borders. "We believe that it is of the highest priority for the U.S. to keep its relationships strong with our neighbors in the Western Hemisphere. Before long, China will be significantly positioned to completely dominate Western Hemisphere economics, as China is already the top trading partner for practically all of Asia, Oceania, Eastern Europe, Africa, and, as stated, most of South America," the members wrote. Full text of the letter can be found here. ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-implores-president-biden-amend-federal-employee-vaccine Westerman Implores President Biden to Amend Federal Employee Vaccine Mandate 2021-10-12 2021 2021-10 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Bruce Westerman sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for an amendment to Executive Order 14043 mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for all federal employees. "I believe in the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine against infection, hospitalization, and death, and I chose to take the vaccine myself when it became available, but it was my choice," said Congressman Westerman. "It would be an injustice to our nation's dedicated public servants to force a choice between what they believe is best for their own health care and their livelihood. It is obvious walking down any main street that we have a critical labor shortage. Imposing unnecessary vaccine mandates will only exacerbate the issue. These mandates draw a line in the sand, dividing our communities, and do nothing to overcome vaccine hesitancy. Both sides of the aisle want to protect employees, but we must not lose sight of liberty in the process." Background: See the full text of the letter here. Executive Order 14043 titled "Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccinations for Federal Employees was signed by President Joe Biden on September 9, 2021. All federal employees have until November 22, 2021 to be vaccinated in compliance with the mandate. In his letter, Congressman Westerman calls on President Biden to afford federal employees the same right to a vaccine exemption that employees of large, private businesses are being given, namely, allowing employees to choose weekly testing as a vaccine alternative. President Biden announced a series of proposals on September 9, 2021 requiring all businesses with over 100 employees to require the vaccine or weekly testing. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-concludes-annual-agriculture-tour-0 Westerman Concludes Annual Agriculture Tour 2021-10-09 2021 2021-10 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – U.S Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR) concluded his annual tour of Arkansas agriculture, where he visited farmers and other agriculture producers across the Fourth District. Westerman issued the following statement: "It was an honor to spend time with folks who have dedicated their lives to feeding and clothing America, hear their concerns, and learn how I can help from the federal level," said Congressman Westerman. "Agriculture is a demanding career made all the more difficult by nationwide labor shortages and rising inflation. Far too often, Washington bureaucrats legislate without understanding how regulations and taxation affects rural Americans, the producers of the food and clothing so often taken for granted. Those in agriculture are some of our nation's most essential workers and I understand that our farmers' success is our nation's succuss. I am committed to continuing to be a voice for rural America in Congress, taking back their insights to Washington, D.C., and ensuring they are heard." Background The annual agriculture tour is an opportunity for Westerman to meet one-on-one with constituents and learn more about the issues they're facing and how he can assist. Full 2021 Agriculture Tour Itinerary: 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-hosts-cybersecurity-event-with-intelligence-agencies Rep. Crawford Hosts Cybersecurity Event with Intelligence Agencies 2021-10-06 2021 2021-10 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Hosts Cybersecurity Event with Intelligence Agencies 10/6/2021 Jonesboro, AR — Yesterday, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) hosted a day-long conference with cyber security experts from our nation's intelligence and security agencies and local leaders on preventing cyberattacks, securing critical infrastructure, and protecting intellectual property and customer data from China and other foreign and domestic threats. The "Scale Up" event focused on educating local officials and business leaders on identifying threats and how to be proactive in training staff and creating a system that is secure from outside threats. The conference also worked to improve communication between companies and intelligence agencies by easing gaps in communication and going over the cyberattack reporting process. "Foreign adversaries have recently ramped up cyber-attacks on our critical infrastructure and supply chains which leaves agriculture and manufacturing states like Arkansas a large target. I'm pleased with the enthusiasm this event received and I'm glad to play a role in facilitating this important discussion. I believe everyone took home valuable information that can be applied to their respective companies which will in turn safeguard our national economy and security," said Crawford. The full agenda and information on guest speakers. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. #### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-calls-on-us-trade-representative-to-stop-chinas-admission-to-11-nation-trading-pact Cotton Calls on U.S. Trade Representative to Stop China’s Admission to 11-Nation Trading Pact 2021-10-06 2021 2021-10 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 October 6, 2021 Cotton Calls on U.S. Trade Representative to Stop China’s Admission to 11-Nation Trading Pact Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai calling on her to use tools available under the USMCA to stop China’s admission to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), an 11-nation free trade agreement (FTA). The Honorable Katherine Tai U.S. Trade Representative 600 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20508 Dear Ambassador Tai, I write to express my concerns about China’s interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). China reportedly sent a formal notice on September 16th to New Zealand requesting to join the pact. As you know, the CPTPP is an 11-nation trading pact between market economies from around the Pacific Rim. China comes nowhere close to complying with CPTPP’s standards on state-owned enterprises, intellectual property, labor, the environment, and many other areas. Its policy of economic warfare against market economies stands in stark contrast to the general practices of the participating nations. China’s entry into the CPTPP would reward the state-sponsored theft and economic coercion that has been a hallmark of the Chinese Communist Party. For example, the 2004 theft of Canadian company Nortel’s intellectual property by Chinese hackers ended with the bankruptcy of Nortel, a company that was one of the world’s preeminent fiber optic data transmission systems producers. Market economies should decouple themselves from communist China, not encourage Beijing’s malign behavior with more market access. For these reasons, one would expect that the CPTPP nations—which include several strong U.S. allies and partners—will swiftly reject China’s cynical bid for membership. But we know China is not above using economic coercion, kidnapping, and bribery to ach… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-from-biden-doj-about-investigations-of-anti-crt-parents-as-domestic-terrorists Cotton Demands Answers from Biden DOJ About Investigations of Anti-CRT Parents as Domestic Terrorists 2021-10-06 2021 2021-10 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 October 6, 2021 Cotton Demands Answers from Biden DOJ About Investigations of Anti-CRT Parents as Domestic Terrorists Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers about a memo he drafted addressing protests against local school board officials. This memo came after the National School Boards Association (NSBA) sent a letter to President Biden requesting federal law enforcement be tasked with investigating a “growing number of threats of violence and acts of intimidation” against local school board officials. In part, Cotton wrote, “The NSBA letter requested that the Biden administration examine whether these purported acts violated several statutes, including the PATRIOT Act and the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The letter further asserted that these acts may amount to a form of ‘domestic terrorism.’” “Your memo, issued just five days after the NSBA letter and copying some of its recommendations, certainly appears to be a response to and tacit approval of that letter. The Department of Justice’s endorsement of such outlandish allegations threatens to intimidate parents, chill free speech, and discourage lawful assemblies,” Cotton continued. Text of the letter may be found here and below. The Honorable Merrick Garland Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20530-0001 Dear Attorney General Garland, I write regarding your October 4th memo addressing protests against local school board policies. Your memo was issued shortly after the National School Boards Association (NSBA) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to task federal law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with investigating a “growing number of threats of violence and acts of intimidation” against local school board officials. The NSBA letter requested that the Biden … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-about-afghan-evacuee-independent-departures Cotton Demands Answers About Afghan Evacuee ‘Independent Departures’ 2021-10-04 2021 2021-10 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 October 4, 2021 Cotton Demands Answers About Afghan Evacuee ‘Independent Departures’ The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas Secretary Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528 Dear Secretary Mayorkas: According to public reports, hundreds of Afghan evacuees housed at U.S. military bases have simply walked off of the bases at which they were being housed. Individuals with lawful immigration status prior to the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan—such as United States citizens, lawful permanent residents, and approved special immigrant visa holders—justly expected a speedy departure from U.S. custody once they arrived safely in the United States. However, a more extensive review and vetting process is absolutely essential for the tens of thousands of unknown Afghans who were airlifted during the evacuation. The Biden administration’s obfuscation and steadfast refusal to answer oversight inquiries from Congress exacerbates these concerns. The U.S. government is currently investigating multiple crimes committed in evacuee facilities. The American people have seen reports of a group of male Afghan evacuees assaulting a female servicemember at a Fort Bliss facility in New Mexico. An Afghan evacuee allegedly sexually assaulted young boys at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. Another Afghan evacuee reportedly choked his wife at Fort McCoy. The State Department has raised concerns about child trafficking by older Afghan men. Even previously-deported criminals—including an Afghan who had previously been convicted of rape in the United States, and another who had previously been convicted of aggravated robbery —were airlifted back to the United States. In light of these reports, it is alarming that hundreds of Afghan evacuees have reportedly left U.S. military bases directly into our communities, possibly before completing our vetting and immigration processes. Accordingly, please provide answers to the followi… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-about-blinkens-whereabouts-during-afghanistan-withdrawal-drill Cotton Demands Answers About Blinken’s Whereabouts During Afghanistan Withdrawal Drill 2021-09-30 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken questioning his whereabouts during an Afghanistan withdrawal rehearsal upon learning that Blinken was absent from the exercise. In part, Cotton wrote, “It has come to my attention that, on May 8, 2021, the Biden administration held an exercise for principals to rehearse the plan for withdrawal from Afghanistan.” “Conspicuously, you reportedly did not attend the exercise. You also did not send your top deputy, Wendy Sherman. Instead, you sent the third-ranking official at the Department of State. Where were you on May 8, 2021?” he continued. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-gallagher-call-for-chinese-biotechnology-companies-to-be-blacklisted Cotton, Gallagher Call for Chinese Biotechnology Companies to be Blacklisted 2021-09-30 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 30, 2021 Cotton, Gallagher Call for Chinese Biotechnology Companies to be Blacklisted Dear Secretaries Yellen, Raimondo, and Austin, I write to you today regarding China’s use of biotechnology companies including the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) as part of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) strategy of “Military-Civil Fusion” (MCF). I urge you to add BGI and other Chinese biotechnology companies to the Department of the Treasury’s Non-SDN Chinese Military Industrial Complex Companies List (NS-CMIC List), the Department of Commerce’s Entity List, and the Department of Defense’s list of Chinese military companies required by Section 1260H of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. BGI and other Chinese biotech companies meet the grounds for inclusion on the NS-CMIC List, the Entity List, and the Section 1260H list. BGI operates in the defense and related materiel sector of the Chinese economy, it is involved in activities contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, and it is a clear military-civil fusion contributor to China’s defense industrial base. The CCP’s ambition to dominate biotechnology is well known. The Chinese government designated biotech as a “strategic emerging industry” and has prioritized state support for the industry through Made in China 2025 and other state-directed MCF plans. BGI plays a key role in these biotech aspirations. Thanks to at least $1.5 billion in Chinese state subsidies, BGI has grown to become China’s biotech “national champion” and now manages China’s national gene database. BGI has also purchased American firms and used state subsidies to undercut the global DNA sequencing market. BGI has used its dominant position to further the CCP’s strategic goals by acquiring sensitive health data from the rest of the world. BGI and at least 14 other Chinese companies perform genomic sequencing for U.S. healthcare patients. As m… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-statement-vote-raise-debt-ceiling Westerman Statement on Vote to Raise the Debt Ceiling 2021-09-29 2021 2021-09 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Reacting to the partisan passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of S. 1301 to raise the debt limit, Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) released the following statement: "Today, House Democrats unilaterally voted to suspend the debt limit once again to pay for their own reckless spending," said Congressman Westerman. "Speaker Pelosi brought this bill to the floor so that she can run up the debt to "pay for" her liberal priorities in the upcoming reconciliation bill. This vote is intricately linked to the over $4 trillion reconciliation bill that will raise taxes and hurt small businesses across America. Until Congress takes real steps to act responsibly and spend more wisely, I cannot support a limitless debt limit suspension that allows Speaker Pelosi to go on a liberal spending spree." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-condemns-red-flag-language-in-ndaa Rep. Crawford Condemns Red Flag Language in NDAA 2021-09-28 2021 2021-09 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson ( Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov ) Rep. Crawford Condemns Red Flag Language in NDAA 9/28/2021 Washington — Today, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement in response to the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act's (NDAA) red flag provision. "The NDAA is a critical piece of legislation that provides our Armed Services the resources they need to keep themselves and our country safe. I voted in favor of the legislation because I don't agree with the House Democrats' strategy of holding our service members hostage and tanking a bill that is vital to our national security in the process. My office has confirmed reports of bi-partisan support for the removal of this damaging provision and has been assured by likely negotiators that the language in Section 529 will be stricken from the final bill before being signed into law. It is shameful that my colleagues would even consider utilizing the NDAA to target veterans' rights to own firearms when its intended purpose is to support our military," said Rep. Crawford. ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-votes-against-abortion-on-demand-bill Rep. Crawford Votes Against Abortion on Demand Bill 2021-09-24 2021 2021-09 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper "At a time when inflation is on the rise and families must spend more of their income on basic needs, House Democrats choose to prioritize making abortions available on demand. H.R. 3755 is another attempt by progressives in Congress to undermine the sanctity of life, trample state's rights, and leave the abortion industry largely unregulated. I will always fight for the right to life of all Americans from the moment they are conceived and the rights of my constituents to not be forced to fund this horrific procedure," said Rep. Crawford. ######### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-huawei-extradition-deal Cotton Statement on Huawei Extradition Deal 2021-09-24 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 24, 2021 Cotton Statement on Huawei Extradition Deal Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after reports that the Justice Department reached an agreement to allow Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou, to return to China: “Meng Wanzhou violated U.S. sanctions, but the Biden administration chose to appease the Chinese Communist Party rather than enforcing the law. Instead of standing firm against China’s hostage-taking and blackmail, President Biden folded. This surrender only encourages the Communists in Beijing to take more Americans and our allies hostage in the future.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-responds-to-passage-of-iron-dome-funding Rep. Crawford Responds to Passage of Iron Dome Funding 2021-09-23 2021 2021-09 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Responds to Passage of Iron Dome Funding 9/23/2021 Washington — Today, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement in response to the passage of funding for Israel's Iron Dome system. The Iron Dome is a defense system utilized by the Israel military to neutralize any air missiles that are a threat to the country and its civilians. This system was developed by both the United States and Israel and has been financially backed by the two countries in past years. This week, the Iron Dome was threatened as funding for the system was axed from a broader spending bill. However, a standalone bill was quickly passed on Thursday night to provide funding. "I appreciate Speaker Pelosi's willingness to reverse course after initially caving to a demand by the party's anti-Israel wing to eliminate funding for the Iron Dome, which is lifesaving defensive system that protects Israelis and Palestinians from terror attacks. When Hamas and other terrorist organizations launched more than 4,300 rockets at Israel earlier in the year, this critical defense system intercepted more than 90 percent of the rockets that would have rained down on civilians. Make no mistake, the Iron Dome is saving countless Israeli and Palestinian lives and is a necessary tool that reduces the chances of war," said Rep. Crawford. ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/09/23/2021/cotton-accepting-service-academy-applications Cotton Accepting Service Academy Applications 2021-09-23 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 23, 2021 Cotton Accepting Service Academy Applications Washington, D.C.— Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) announced that he is accepting applications for Service Academy nominations. In order to be considered for a nomination, materials must be submitted by Monday, November 1, 2021. "Students who attend U.S. service academies and go on to serve their country in uniform are the pride of Arkansas, and I encourage each young Arkansan with a sincere interest to apply," Cotton said. Interested students can find the application, along with information on eligibility and other requirements, here. Please contact Nicole Millar (501) 223-9081 for any additional questions. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-calls-for-investigation-of-chinese-stock-trading-app Cotton Calls for Investigation of Chinese Stock Trading App 2021-09-23 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 23, 2021 Cotton Calls for Investigation of Chinese Stock Trading App Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote to Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence, to raise concerns about the national security risks posed by Webull, a Chinese stock trading app, and to call for an investigation into the company. In part, Cotton wrote, “As a broker-dealer, Webull collects sensitive, personal information from its clients. That includes Social Security numbers, home addresses, bank accounts, and more. While Webull claims to store user data locally, Webull is still required to adhere to the laws of China.” “Given these concerns, we believe that Webull is a potential counterintelligence threat and we ask that the Intelligence Community conduct an assessment of the potential national security risks posed by Webull and other China-based broker-dealers operating in the United States. Further, we request that the Intelligence Community brief Congress on these findings,” Cotton continued. Text of the letter may be found here and below. The Honorable Avril Haines Director of National Intelligence Office of the Director of National Intelligence Washington, DC 20511 Dear Director Haines, We write to express our concerns about potential national security risks posed by the growing use of Webull, a registered broker-dealer and securities trading platform, in the United States. Webull is owned by Fumi Technology, a financial analysis firm that offers market trading tools for personal investors. Webull’s customer-facing unit and brokerage wings are located in New York City, however, their technology team is located in Hunan, China. Webull does not earn commissions on trades but rather makes money via order flow payments, short selling fees, subscriptions, interest paid on margin, as well as investments of cash on balance. A 2018 profile of Webull described their Wall Street office as “a Chinese force i… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-about-biden-strategy-to-counter-huawei Cotton Demands Answers About Biden Strategy to Counter Huawei 2021-09-22 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 22, 2021 Cotton Demands Answers About Biden Strategy to Counter Huawei Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) today wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the continued proliferation of Huawei’s cloud services and to demand information regarding the Biden administration’s strategy to counter Huawei Cloud’s spread. In part, the members wrote, “Huawei’s cloud services present an obvious danger to U.S. firms and citizens. This threat could manifest itself in the CCP’s access to the personal data of visiting U.S. citizens, services members, businesspersons, and diplomats. Such an outcome could severely disadvantage U.S. diplomatic, intelligence, and economic efforts and must be resisted accordingly.” “We must combat Huawei as a whole and target each of the company’s commercial units, including their 5G, cloud services, mobile-phone, and underwater cable businesses. The purpose behind Clean Cloud, Clean Apps, and Clean Cable was to have a broad suite of Clean Network efforts beyond 5G designed to unify and mobilize allies against collaborating with untrusted Beijing-backed firms to advance global information security,” the members continued. Text of the letter may be found here and below. The Honorable Antony Blinken Secretary United States Department of State 2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20520 Dear Secretary Blinken, We write to express our concern over the continued proliferation of Huawei’s cloud services and to seek information regarding the Biden administration’s strategy to stop Huawei Cloud’s spread. Today, Huawei has at least 70 cloud service agreements with foreign governments or state-backed enterprises. These projects span more than 40 nations on almost every continent. They include projects in countries of immense geopolitical importance to the United States, such as, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-sasse-introduce-bill-to-block-taliban-access-to-chabahar-port Cotton, Sasse Introduce Bill to Block Taliban Access to Chabahar Port 2021-09-21 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 21, 2021 Cotton, Sasse Introduce Bill to Block Taliban Access to Chabahar Port Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska) today introduced the No Harbor for Terror Act to revoke the Afghanistan exception to the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012, which currently provides Afghanistan with access to the Chabahar Port for exports. Text of the legislation may be found here. “Iran’s Chabahar Port provides a lifeline for Afghanistan’s trade exports, but the United States shouldn’t continue to waive sanctions for a nation now run by a terrorist organization. Our legislation would revoke Afghanistan’s exception and limit the Taliban and Iranian regime’s ability to use the Port as a harbor for their illicit trade,” said Cotton. “President Biden’s shameful surrender has put the Taliban back in charge of Afghanistan,” said Sasse. “Why on earth should these bloodthirsty terrorists now enjoy the economic benefits from access to an Iranian controlled port? It’s time to ditch this sanctions waiver.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-democrats-plan-to-block-iron-dome-funding Cotton Statement on Democrats’ Plan to Block Iron Dome Funding 2021-09-21 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 21, 2021 Cotton Statement on Democrats’ Plan to Block Iron Dome Funding Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after Democrats announced a plan to remove funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system from a government funding package: “On the same day that President Biden pledged to stand with our allies at the United Nations, members of his own party want to deny Israel the equipment to defend its citizens from terrorist missiles. Despite their best efforts, the United States will support Israel’s right to defend itself and fund the Iron Dome.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-responds-to-growing-crisis-at-the-southern-border Rep. Crawford Responds to Growing Crisis at the Southern Border 2021-09-17 2021 2021-09 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson ( Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov ) Rep. Crawford Responds to Growing Crisis at the Southern Border 9/17/2021 Washington — Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-1) commented today on news that more than 10,000 Haitians and counting have joined growing numbers from around the world gathering at our wide-open southern border. Media reports indicate they are being dropped off by the busload by criminal cartels, seizing on the Administration's refusal to enforce the immigration laws President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took an oath to uphold. "The situation at our southern border is not just a crisis. It is a scandal. One created and encouraged by President Biden and Vice President Harris," Crawford said. Already this year, people from 90 different nations have been stopped by Border Control trying to enter the United States illegally, including families, groups of men, and unaccompanied children. The Biden Administration, meanwhile, has weakened interior enforcement, and is busing illegal aliens to communities throughout the United States. Most of them are impoverished, and will stay in America permanently. "They are coming in record numbers," Crawford added, "because the Administration refuses to enforce existing immigration laws, while Congressional Democrats have promised to grant mass amnesty to millions of illegal aliens through their upcoming, $3.5 trillion socialist ‘reconciliation' bill." Once inside America, illegal aliens are eligible for free emergency health care, free K-12 education, and once given amnesty, cradle-to-grave welfare benefits paid for by American families via higher taxes, and by increasing our federal debt. They also drive down wages for jobs held disproportionately by Americans of color. Crawford concluded: "This brazen campaign by Democratic politicians to flood the nation with the world's poor, and then grant them mass amnesty, is a cynical attack on our democracy – just like their efforts in court-packing, statehood for Democrat… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-about-faa-flight-restriction-over-southern-border Cotton Demands Answers About FAA Flight Restriction Over Southern Border 2021-09-17 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 17, 2021 Cotton Demands Answers About FAA Flight Restriction Over Southern Border Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) demanding answers about the FAA’s temporary flight restriction over the southern border in Del Rio, Texas. In part, Senator Cotton wrote, “Last night, the FAA implemented a two-week Temporary Flight Restriction over the migrant camp. This decision has forced media organizations covering the ongoing border crisis to ground their aircraft. I’m disturbed by the possibility that the FAA closed the airspace over the border for political reasons, perhaps to blackout unfavorable media coverage of the humanitarian disaster. The American people deserve to have access to information about this crisis.” Text of the letter may be found here or below. Dear Administrator Dickson, I write with deep concerns about a recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decision to restrict the airspace over Del Rio, Texas. As you know, in recent days thousands of illegal aliens have poured over the U.S.-Mexico border into Del Rio, Texas. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol estimates that over 9,000 aliens, including many Haitians, are currently sheltering under the Del Rio International Bridge. Authorities expect thousands more to illegally cross the border in the coming days. Last night, the FAA implemented a two-week Temporary Flight Restriction over the migrant camp. This decision has forced media organizations covering the ongoing border crisis to ground their aircraft. I’m disturbed by the possibility that the FAA closed the airspace over the border for political reasons, perhaps to blackout unfavorable media coverage of the humanitarian disaster. The American people deserve to have access to information about this crisis. I ask that you promptly answer the following questions: 1. Why did the FAA implement a Temporary Flight Restriction … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-the-20th-anniversary-of-9/11 Cotton Statement on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 2021-09-11 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 11, 2021 Cotton Statement on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks: “On this 20th anniversary of 9/11 we remember the nearly 3,000 Americans who were taken from us on that terrible day. We also honor the thousands of veterans who fought to ensure that such an attack would never happen again. For many, this is an especially painful anniversary, but I urge those commemorating it to not only remember the anguish, but also the courage we saw on 9/11 and since. From the riders of Flight 93 who charged a cockpit and saved the Capitol, to the firefighters and police officers who ran into the burning towers of New York, to the countless men and women who volunteered to fight and avenge the attack, the heroes of 9/11 outnumbered the terrorists many times over. God bless them and God bless the victims of the attack. We shall never forget.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-statement-president-bidens-vaccine-mandate-private-businesses Westerman Statement on President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate on Private Businesses 2021-09-10 2021 2021-09 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Reacting to President Biden's executive order mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for private businesses with over 100 employees, Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) released the following statement: "This week, the Biden Administration and Democrat leaders in D.C. have illustrated misguided priorities, out-of-touch policies, and incompetency," said Congressman Westerman. "They ignore the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and on our southern border. They ignore inflation and double-down on it by supporting $3.5 trillion in radical spending that will increase consumer prices and our national debt doing considerably more damage than good. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-chipman-nomination-withdrawal Cotton Statement on Chipman Nomination Withdrawal 2021-09-09 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 9, 2021 Cotton Statement on Chipman Nomination Withdrawal Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding President Biden’s decision to withdraw David Chipman’s nomination to serve as the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF): “David Chipman is an erratic, anti-gun radical who planned to outlaw nearly every single sporting rifle in America. He is wholly unfit to run the ATF, and I’m glad to see President Biden has withdrawn his nomination.” During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing earlier this year, Senator Cotton questioned Mr. Chipman about his calls for an assault weapon ban, revealing his intention to outlaw the large majority of modern sporting rifles. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-afghan-green-cards-benefits Cotton Statement on Afghan Green Cards, Benefits 2021-09-08 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 8, 2021 Cotton Statement on Afghan Green Cards, Benefits Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on the Biden administration’s proposed short-term funding resolution that would grant green cards and other benefits to Afghans without regard for the normal screening and approval process. “Joe Biden left behind thousands in Afghanistan who already have American citizenship, green cards, or pending visas, but now he wants to award unlimited green cards to people who didn’t serve alongside our troops and who may even threaten our safety and health—all while exempting them from the normal refugee screening process. This proposal is just another chapter in Biden’s rolling fiasco of an Afghanistan policy.” Background The Biden administration's unprecedented proposal allows any Afghans who come to the United States over at least the next year to obtain green cards, backdated to the day they entered the country, without completing the normal refugee screening or approval process. The proposal would give better benefits and less stringent screening to completely unknown Afghans than to our Afghan allies and interpreters. The proposal specifies that none of these Afghans will be counted against the normal annual refugee caps, despite that each of them would also be able to access all refugee benefits and services. The only screening required under the proposal is whatever screening Secretary Mayorkas deems sufficient. The proposal also gives Secretary Mayorkas explicit authority to waive any grounds of inadmissibility (including criminal records or ties to terrorism) if he feels it is useful for "humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-demand-answers-about-afghanistan-withdrawal Cotton, Colleagues Demand Answers About Afghanistan Withdrawal 2021-09-02 2021 2021-09 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 September 2, 2021 Cotton, Colleagues Demand Answers About Afghanistan Withdrawal Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and 25 of his senate colleagues today sent a letter to President Joe Biden demanding information regarding the humanitarian crisis created by his withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan. Specifically, the letter requests information on Americans and allies who were left behind, and on the vetting process for evacuees who are being brought to the United States. In part, the senators wrote, “The signatories of this letter may have differing opinions about whether the United States should have maintained a military presence in Afghanistan, but we all agree that the arbitrary and poorly-planned method by which you withdrew from Afghanistan caused this crisis.” “We request thorough, unclassified answers to these questions that can be made available to the general public. Americans need to see that the United States will not abandon them to terrorists abroad forever,” the senators continued. Senator Cotton was joined on the letter by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). Text of the letter may be found here or below. September 2, 2021 President Joseph R. Biden The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Biden… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-rick-crawford-statement-on-terrorist-attacks-in-kabul Rep. Rick Crawford Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Kabul 2021-08-26 2021 2021-08 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Rick Crawford Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Kabul 8/26/2021 Washington — Responding to the attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan, Rep. Crawford released the following statement: "Today, reports are that eleven Marines, one Navy medic, many Afghans, and likely more were murdered by evil actors who have no regard for human life. Those who were responsible for this need to face a fierce US response at the time of our choosing, and the American military must be allowed to rescue and evacuate every single American who is in Afghanistan and bring them home," said Rep. Crawford. "President Biden has shown a complete inability to formulate and execute a competent and comprehensive strategy to keep Americans safe from harm and if he cannot course-correct immediately, he should resign and allow someone else who can. America deserves leadership during these dark times. Congress should use its power of the purse immediately to prohibit the Biden Administration from cutting and running while Americans are still essentially hostages in Taliban-run Afghanistan. If the Speaker is unwilling or silent on recalling the House to act in this manner, she too must resign and let someone else who will." ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-reacts-terrorist-attacks-kabul Westerman Reacts to Terrorist Attacks in Kabul 2021-08-26 2021 2021-08 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Reacting to reports of coordinated terrorist attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan on American troops and civilians, Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) released the following statement: "My heart breaks for the American servicemen and Afghan nationals harmed or killed by the cowardly attacks outside of the Kabul airport," said Congressman Westerman. "As the situation continues to develop, join me in praying for the safety of every American and Afghan civilian. I call on President Biden to do whatever necessary to find and extract every single American citizen before fully withdrawing from the country. Anyone with knowledge of American citizens in Afghanistan in need of assistance should contact my office as soon as possible. We will help however possible to ensure their safe passage home." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-kabul-airport-bombing Cotton Statement on Kabul Airport Bombing 2021-08-26 2021 2021-08 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 August 26, 2021 Cotton Statement on Kabul Airport Bombing Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after the bombing outside the Kabul airport: “U.S. troops sacrificed their lives today to rescue their fellow Americans fleeing Afghanistan. We mourn their deaths and grieve with their families. To honor their lives, we should finish their mission: the United States must use all its might to rescue our remaining countrymen in Afghanistan and bring justice to the terrorists responsible for today’s savagery. We must send the clear and unmistakable message that we leave no man behind, and if you kill our service members, your days are numbered.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-responds-to-passage-of-35-trillion-budget Rep. Crawford Responds to Passage of $3.5 Trillion Budget 2021-08-24 2021 2021-08 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Responds to Passage of $3.5 Trillion Budget 8/24/2021 Washington — Today, Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) voted against the Biden Administration's $3.5 Trillion Budget. "There are no moderate Democrats in Congress anymore, as today's vote shows once again. JFK would not recognize this Democratic party," said Rep. Crawford. "Today, Washington Democrats voted for trillions in new spending from Bernie Sanders' socialist wish list. They voted for more inflation, and increased, crushing debt on our children and grandchildren. The pretend, face-saving ‘win' those fantasy moderates will spin to their constituents will fool no one." ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-august-31st-deadline-for-afghanistan-withdrawal Cotton Statement on August 31st Deadline for Afghanistan Withdrawal 2021-08-24 2021 2021-08 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 August 24, 2021 Cotton Statement on August 31st Deadline for Afghanistan Withdrawal Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after news of President Biden’s decision to keep August 31st as the deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan: “President Biden should commit to staying in Afghanistan until we have rescued every American citizen and those Afghans who risked their lives for American troops. Instead, he intends to abandon stranded Americans to appease the Taliban and meet his own arbitrary political deadline. Joe Biden’s impotence leaves Americans in harm’s way and dishonors our entire nation.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-calls-for-military-rescue-of-trapped-americans Cotton Calls for Military Rescue of Trapped Americans 2021-08-19 2021 2021-08 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 August 19, 2021 Cotton Calls for Military Rescue of Trapped Americans Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding President Biden’s response to the ongoing crisis in Kabul, Afghanistan: “President Biden’s ill-planned, chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan has stranded thousands of American citizens behind enemy lines, turning them in effect into hostages of the Taliban. Instead of ordering rescue missions to save our people, as our allies have done, the Biden administration is relying on the Taliban’s good graces to ensure the safety of our citizens. As a result, terrified Americans are being forced to run a gauntlet of armed terrorist checkpoints to reach the safety of Kabul airport. My office has received numerous reports of American citizens and Afghan allies being harassed, beaten, and abused by Taliban thugs. These reports are in addition to the televised scenes of chaos at the airport perimeter. “This catastrophe of the president’s making must come to an end. It’s time for President Biden to authorize the military to stop this rolling humiliation, expand the perimeter at Kabul airport, and rescue Americans trapped behind enemy lines. Anything less amounts to an abandonment of our fellow Americans and a shameful abdication of duty in a moment of crisis." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-statement-on-crisis-unfolding-in-afghanistan Rep. Crawford Statement on Crisis Unfolding in Afghanistan 2021-08-16 2021 2021-08 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Statement on Crisis Unfolding in Afghanistan 8/16/2021 Washington — Over the weekend, President Biden's plans to withdraw United States troops and diplomatic personnel from Afghanistan went into effect. In the 48 hours since the withdraw began, the Taliban has overtaken the capital city Kabul for the first time in 20 years and assumed control of Afghanistan. The President of Afghanistan has fled along with other top government officials as a result of the violence. Meanwhile, the President of the United States has failed to address the nation as the events continue to unfold. "The scenes of chaos, mayhem, and terror over the weekend across Afghanistan are angering and unacceptable. Joe Biden's plan and directives that have led to what is still unfolding will damage America's reputation and standing in the world as a country that will always fight to secure the freedoms and liberties of those living under tyranny and terror. President Biden has repeatedly stated that he "inherited" this situation from the previous administration. In fact, what Biden inherited was an agreed upon plan with a well-defined set of conditions that would ensure a safe American withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Abraham Accords that are helping foster peace in the Middle East for the first time in generations, and a safer world with the elimination of terror masterminds Solemani and al-Baghdadi. The actions by Joe Biden – from whom we have yet to hear -- will forever rank him as one of the weakest Presidents America has ever known and raise serious questions about his fitness to adequately and fully execute his duties as Commander-in-Chief." said Rep. Crawford. Rep. Crawford represents Arkansas's First District and is currently serving as the Ranking Member of the Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Counterproliferation Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-statement-us-withdrawal-afghanistan Westerman Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan 2021-08-16 2021 2021-08 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressmen Bruce Westerman released the following statement on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. "President Biden's ‘planned and strategic' withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has resulted in chaos. The Taliban sits in the Presidential Palace and is reportedly in possession of U.S. arms meant to fortify the Afghan army. Americans on the ground are stranded, hiding and praying for their lives. Families cling to the few planes leaving the country, desperate for safety. America has lost all credibility. "President Biden acted against the advice of numerous military and policy advisors to rush the withdrawal from Afghanistan, all but handing the country to the Taliban. This is a disgrace to the service members who lost their lives, were wounded, or continue to deal with the trauma of combat in their 20-year mission to protect their country from extremists. President Biden has allowed the fragile nation to fall into the hands of those same extremists, risking the lives of Americans now and in the future. His short-sighted, politically expedient decision making has exposed our nation, our allies, and the Afghan people to serious terrorist threats," said Congressman Westerman 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/contact-information-for-americans-stranded-in-afghanistan Contact Information for Americans Stranded in Afghanistan 2021-08-16 2021 2021-08 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 August 15, 2021 Contact Information for Americans Stranded in Afghanistan Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement providing contact information for Americans stranded in Afghanistan: “If you’re an American stranded in Afghanistan, or know one who is, please contact my office immediately at (501) 223-9081 or evac@cotton.senate.gov . The situation is dire, but we’ll do everything in our power to help keep you informed and to help get you out.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-situation-in-afghanistan Cotton Statement on Situation in Afghanistan 2021-08-14 2021 2021-08 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 August 14, 2021 Cotton Statement on Situation in Afghanistan Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the situation in Afghanistan: “The fiasco in Afghanistan wasn’t just predictable, it was predicted. Joe Biden’s ill-planned retreat has now humiliated America and put at risk thousands of Americans left in Kabul. At a minimum, President Biden must unleash American air power to destroy every Taliban fighter in the vicinity of Kabul until we can save our fellow Americans. Anything less will further confirm Joe Biden’s impotence to the world.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/arkansas-delegation-applauds-usda-disaster-declaration-for-counties-impacted-by-storms Arkansas Delegation Applauds USDA Disaster Declaration for Counties Impacted by Storms 2021-08-12 2021 2021-08 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 12, 2021 Contact: Boozman - Sara Lasure <mailto:sara_lasure@boozman.senate.gov> Cotton - James Arnold<mailto:james_arnold@cotton.senate.gov> Crawford - Sara Robertson<mailto:sara.robertson2@mail.house.gov> Hill - Dan Schneider<mailto:Dan.Schneider@mail.house.gov> Womack - Alexia Sikora <mailto:Alexia.Sikora@mail.house.gov> Westerman - Claire Nance <mailto:claire.nance@mail.house.gov> Arkansas Delegation Applauds USDA Disaster Declaration for Counties Impacted by Storms WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton—along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman—applauded U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's decision to issue a Secretarial Disaster Designation<https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/e/3/e3c48c2f-4971-46ef-ae2d-29d1cccf8a58/27A8CAFFC4B5723C8E5320605C698858.usda-disaster.pdf> covering 18 Arkansas counties impacted by flooding, high winds, hail, tornadoes and other storm damage: Arkansas, Benton, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Desha, Drew, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Lonoke, Monroe, Phillips, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, White and Yell. "This disaster designation is a critical step to helping Arkansas agricultural producers recover from devastating losses as a result of natural disasters. We are pleased Secretary Vilsack recognizes the need to provide this assistance to our farmers," members said. Last month, the congressional delegation wrote a letter<https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E57C88BD-C299-445F-9DB2-ED89CBF8202E> to Secretary Vilsack in support of Governor Asa Hutchinson's request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-calls-end-unconstitutional-eviction-moratorium Westerman Calls for End of Unconstitutional Eviction Moratorium 2021-08-12 2021 2021-08 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) joined Congressman Chris Jacobs (R-NY) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) in sending a bicameral letter with 27 members of Congress to President Biden calling on the Administration to change course and end its unconstitutional eviction moratorium. "We strongly oppose the Biden administration's latest eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This latest action is plainly unconstitutional and will only serve to further distort the market and create a housing affordability crisis," the lawmakers said. "Additionally, any further restrictions on evictions at this point are counterproductive. The economy is open, jobs and vaccines are abundant, and federal rental assistance is a reality." In a recent Supreme Court case, Alabama Association of Realtors v. Department of Health and Human Services, five members of the Supreme Court effectively acknowledged that CDC exceeded its authority in issuing the moratorium. Justice Kavanaugh stated that "clear and specific congressional authorization (via new legislation) would be necessary for the CDC to extend the moratorium past July 31." "Instead of pursuing an unconstitutional moratorium, the Biden administration should be focused on distributing the nearly $50 billion in rental assistance that was appropriated through three separate stimulus packages." the lawmakers said. "As long this moratorium remains in place, property owners will continue to struggle financially. These property owners must still pay mortgages, taxes, and maintenance for the dwelling. If this continues much longer, we will see a wave of bankruptcies, foreclosures, and blighted properties." Most states require the tenant to take the initiative when applying for rental assistance. A recent Treasury report found very little of the federal rental assistance money has been disbursed so far, and the new moratorium will act as an additional disincentive for tenants to apply for this aid, leaving property owners on t… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-delivers-remarks-national-center-toxicological-research-50th Westerman Delivers Remarks at the National Center of Toxicological Research 50th Anniversary Celebration 2021-08-11 2021 2021-08 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) spoke to the 50th anniversary celebration of the National Center of Toxicological Research (NCTR) in Jefferson, Arkansas. Westerman released the following statement. "NCTR has undoubtably improved the lives of every American by developing needed research to ensure safe medicine, food, and cosmetics," said Congressman Bruce Westerman."Without facilities such as this, the United States would not be home to the world's safest and most abundant food supply. Consumers in the United States and around the world may never truly know the impact of NCTR's work on their daily lives, but every time a patient is successfully treated, or a family safely uses countless familiar products, NCTR's hard work deserves the credit." Background: NCTR is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) research facility located outside of Washington, D.C. employs 670 people across 17 counties, contributing nearly $70 million to the state, local, and national economies. NCTR was established on August 11, 1971 by President Richard Nixon. This research facility promotes and protects public health and provided critical support to Arkansas during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arkansas Delegation recently introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to commemorate this 50th anniversary and recognize NCTR's achievements. See the full text of the Resolution here. ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-amendment-to-fight-critical-race-theory-in-schools Cotton Introduces Amendment to Fight Critical Race Theory in Schools 2021-08-10 2021 2021-08 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 August 10, 2021 Cotton Introduces Amendment to Fight Critical Race Theory in Schools Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced an amendment to the budget reconciliation package to prevent federal funds from being used to promote Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Pre-K programs and K-12 schools. A one pager about the amendment may be found here. Text of the amendment may be found here. “Our future depends on raising a generation of kids who love America and love each other as fellow citizens, no matter their race. But Critical Race Theory teaches that our country is irredeemably racist, that ‘equality’ is a sham, and that true justice requires treating everyone differently—based on the color of their skin. Our tax dollars should never support indoctrinating the youngest Americans with such poison,”said Cotton. Senator Cotton has been a leader in the fight against Critical Race Theory for more than a year: Senator Cotton introduced the Stop CRT Act in July 2021 to bar federal funds from being sent to K-12 schools that promote Critical Race Theory, as well as colleges and universities that compel students or faculty to affirm tenets of Critical Race Theory. Cotton sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice in October 2020 noting the alarming reappearance of racial segregation in education in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Cotton introduced the Combatting Racist Training in the Military Act in March 2021 to prohibit the U.S. Armed Forces from promoting Critical Race Theory. In May 2021, Cotton and Congressman Dan Crenshaw launched a whistleblower webpage where members of the military can share accounts of Critical Race Theory-inspired training and other forms of discrimination to which they have been subjected. On June 2nd, 2021, Cotton sent a letter to Lockheed Martin demanding answers regarding the company’s race and gender diversity training. On July 13th, 2021, Cotton sent a sim… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-infrastructure-package Cotton Statement on Infrastructure Package 2021-08-10 2021 2021-08 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 August 10, 2021 Cotton Statement on Infrastructure Package Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding passage of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act: “Arkansans support real infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, waterways, rural broadband, and ongoing maintenance. They do not want President Biden’s ‘social infrastructure’ and climate alarmism, especially under the threat of increased inflation and higher taxes." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-tapped-by-whip-scalise-for-cyber-security-effort Rep. Crawford Tapped by Whip Scalise for Cyber Security Effort 2021-08-03 2021 2021-08 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Tapped by Whip Scalise for Cyber Security Effort 8/3/2021 Washington — This week, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) launched the Cyber Operations Defense Effort (CODE) as a part of Republican Whip Steve Scalise's (LA-01) House Energy Action Team (HEAT). The focus of the group is to address emerging cyber threats in our nation's energy sector. This news comes as the United States has experienced increased ransomware attacks, including one in May that targeted the Colonial Pipeline. Rep. Crawford's staff will serve in the following capacities in support of CODE Group members and offices: Jonah Shumate, CODE Group Director – Rep. Crawford's Chief of Staff, Shumate will lead and direct the efforts to formulate stakeholder and industry engagement, policy development, and communication in tandem with the office of Whip Scalise. Ashley Shelton, CODE Group Operations – Rep. Crawford's Legislative Director, Shelton will work with other CODE group offices and staff to coordinate planning and events. Kathryn King and Joe MacFarlane, CODE Group Policy Analysts – Rep. Crawford's Legislative Assistants, King and MacFarlane will team on white papers, one-pagers, and other materials in support of the CODE Group. Due increasing cyber-attacks and challenges that stakeholders across the entire American economy are facing, Crawford will be hosting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on October 5th. This event will center around briefing attendees on the overall threat landscape as well as offering break-out sessions that will better inform and equip attendees to protect their businesses. "The rising number of cyber-attacks on American companies is a threat to our supply chain and consequently, our national security. We cannot allow ourselves to remain vulnerable to state sponsored hackers and other cyber criminals. I look forward to working alongside Whip Scalise and our Republican collea… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-amendment-to-infrastructure-bill-to-allow-fish-farmers-to-protect-ponds-from-predatory-birds Cotton Introduces Amendment to Infrastructure Bill to Allow Fish Farmers to Protect Ponds from Predatory Birds 2021-08-03 2021 2021-08 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 August 3, 2021 Cotton Introduces Amendment to Infrastructure Bill to Allow Fish Farmers to Protect Ponds from Predatory Birds Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) introduced the Cormorant Relief Act as an amendment to the infrastructure package being considered on the Senate floor. This amendment would fully restore the ability of catfish farmers and other aquaculture producers to cull predatory double-crested cormorant populations. It would also restore U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations to allow producers to fight the cormorants, which threaten the livelihoods of aquaculture operations in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and other states. Text of the amendment may be found here. "Double-crested cormorants pose a significant threat to Arkansas's fish farmers, but unnecessary regulation currently prevents them from taking additional steps to protect their ponds. This amendment would once again give fish farmers the ability to adequately defend their fish populations from the birds that are eating into their bottom line," said Cotton. Background: Cormorant populations have increased dramatically in recent decades to an estimated 1,031,757 birds. These large water birds that feast primarily on fish cause substantial damage and disruption to aquaculture and fishery operations. Ironically, efficient production practices by fish farmers make the ponds highly susceptible to bird predation, particularly by cormorants. A two-year study published in 2012 of double-crested cormorant feeding on farm-raised catfish in Mississippi during the winter months found that cormorant depredation represents an annual estimated economic loss of $34.3 million to $73.4 million. A Government Accountability Office report noted: “Fish-eating birds (e.g., cormorants, herons, egrets, and pelicans) can cause severe damage at aquaculture farms, eating catfish, crawfish, salmon, bass, trout, and ornamental fish. According to a USDA Nati… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/arkansas-delegation-urges-support-for-usda-secretarial-disaster-declaration-for-counties-impacted-by-storms Arkansas Delegation Urges Support for USDA Secretarial Disaster Declaration for Counties Impacted by Storms 2021-07-30 2021 2021-07 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2021 Contact: Boozman, Patrick Creamer – patrick_creamer@ag.senate.gov Cotton, James Arnold – james_arnold@cotton.senate.gov Crawford, Sara Robertson- sara.robertson2@mail.house.gov Hill, Dan Schneider - Dan.Schneider@mail.house.gov Womack, Alexia Sikora - Alexia.Sikora@mail.house.gov Westerman, Claire Nance, claire.nance@mail.house.gov Arkansas Delegation Urges Support for USDA Secretarial Disaster Declaration for Counties Impacted by Storms WASHINGTON—Arkansas's congressional delegation is voicing its support for the request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for 18 counties impacted by flooding, high winds, hail, tornadoes and other storm damage. U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton—along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman—wrote Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to join Governor Asa Hutchinson's support of the Arkansas USDA Farm Service Agency's request for Secretarial Disaster Designation. "Agriculture is vital to the state, and losses our producers have endured will cause significant economic impacts. Since April 1, 2021, the flooding and other storms have either damaged or prevented the planting of row crops such as rice, soybeans, cotton, corn, and wheat; as well as certain fruit and vegetable crops," members wrote in the letter. "We join Governor Asa Hutchinson in supporting the Arkansas USDA Farm Service Agency's request for Secretarial Disaster Designation, submitted on June 25, 2021; and we ask that you declare the following counties as agriculture-related disaster areas." The following is the full text of the delegation's letter of support: Dear Mr. Secretary: As you are well aware, farmers and agricultural businesses across this nation have been hurt by recent natural disasters. In Arkansas, our farmers have experienced flooding, high winds, hail, tornadoes, and other storm damage resulting in thousands of acres of lost crops, necessitating replanting, which wi… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-arkansas-house-delegation-honor-75th-anniversary-fulbright Westerman, Arkansas House Delegation Honor 75th Anniversary of Fulbright Program 2021-07-30 2021 2021-07 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Congressmen Bruce Westerman (AR-04), Steve Womack (AR-3), French Hill (AR-2), and Rick Crawford (AR-1), introduced a resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright Program, America's flagship educational exchange program established by former Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright. The milestone will officially be marked this Sunday, August 1st. "The Fulbright Program has become a model for study-abroad education by providing students across the nation the opportunity to broaden their horizons and participate in foreign diplomacy by interacting with different cultures, ideas, and traditions," said Congressman Westerman. "On the 75th anniversary of the program, I am proud of its significant impact in the lives of so many students, all due to the passion of one Arkansan." "The Fulbright Program has been a tool of diplomacy and force for good. It has advanced global cooperation and connected people and ideas, driving change and a brighter future," said Congressman Womack."As we mark 75 years of this prestigious program, we are proud to honor the scholars and legacy of service demonstrated. What was once a concept developed in Arkansas has become a pillar of international education." "Since 1946, the Fulbright Program, named for former Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright, has been the flagship international exchange program fostering a mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries through education," said Congressman Hill. "I've seen the Fulbright Program's success firsthand when I traveled to Afghanistan and met an extraordinary woman, Naheed Esar, who graduated from the University of Arkansas as a Fulbright Scholar with a master's degree in cultural anthropology. I thank Congressman Womack for introducing this resolution honoring the 75th anniversary of the program, and I look forward to following the program's success in the future." "The Fulbright Program has played an essential role in American diplomacy, ambassadorship, and education over the years," s… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-ban-anti-semitic-country-of-origin-labels Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban Anti-Semitic Country-of-Origin Labels 2021-07-29 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 29, 2021 Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban Anti-Semitic Country-of-Origin Labels Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) introduced the Anti-BDS Labeling Act to prohibit the Biden administration from reversing current guidelines that require Israeli goods produced in areas where Israel exercises the relevant authorities to be labeled as “Made in Israel.” Such a change would help the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement to target particular Israeli companies and goods. Text of the bill may be found here. “Left-wing activists abuse county-of-origin labels in order to stigmatize products made in Israel. Our bill will defend the integrity of the Jewish State by ensuring that Israeli products may proudly bear the label ‘Made in Israel,’” said Cotton. “As our most strategic and important ally in the Middle East, Israel should be assured that the U.S. government will not reverse course and take part in the campaign to delegitimize its authority and punish its economy,” said Boozman. “This legislation would ensure our support for the Jewish state, which reached new heights under the Trump administration, remains steadfast and rejects anti-Semitic movements attempting to undermine it.” “We cannot allow the disgusting rise of anti-Semitism to continue to permeate our country and the halls of Congress. I’m proud to join this effort and continue my strong support of our great ally Israel. I will always stand with our Jewish community and fight the BDS movement and anti-Semitism wherever it is found,” said Scott. “As the co-author of the bipartisan Combating BDS Act of 2021, I’m proud to join this legislative effort that would prohibit President Biden and his administration from reversing a common-sense … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-calls-on-department-of-state-to-address-unrest-in-haiti Rep. Crawford Calls on Department of State to Address Unrest in Haiti 2021-07-28 2021 2021-07 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson ( Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov ) Rep. Crawford Calls on Department of State to Address Unrest in Haiti 7/28/2021 Washington — Representatives Rick Crawford (AR-01), Clay Higgins (LA-03), and Julia Letlow (LA-05) have called on the United States Department of State to come up with long term solutions to the civil unrest in Haiti. Political violence and crime have recently reached new heights in Haiti due to the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7th. Safety of port and shipping crew has also been called into question as local thieves have targeted rice shipments due to its value as a stable food in the nation. Because of the cost, insurance companies are now reassessing whether it's economical to continue to cover rice shipments to Haiti and shipping companies are determining if they can continue to risk sending rice to Haitian ports. "The political unrest in Haiti will only be exacerbated by food insecurity if companies are not able to safety deliver rice to the Haitian people. It is of vital importance to both our farmers and the Haitian people that we continue to provide a steady flow of product," said Rep. Crawford. "Ensuring the safe delivery of rice shipments and the safety of port and shipping crewmembers that make it possible is a top concern. Additional security is needed to provide certainty and financial stability for the rice industry and regional businesses up and down the supply chain. While the political situation in Haiti continues to develop, we must guarantee that American agricultural companies doing work in Haiti or anywhere in the world have the confidence that their crews will be safe and that their products will get to those in need," said Rep. Higgins. "Rice plays a prominent role in the rural economies of Louisiana's Fifth Congressional District and across our region. That's why I joined my colleagues in urging the federal government to ensure the unrest in Haiti doesn't disrupt the rice market for our U.S. farmers and… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-call-on-president-biden-to-deny-entry-to-iranian-president-senior-iranian-officials Cotton, Colleagues, Call on President Biden to Deny Entry to Iranian President, Senior Iranian Officials 2021-07-28 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 28, 2021 Cotton, Colleagues, Call on President Biden to Deny Entry to Iranian President, Senior Iranian Officials Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to deny entry visas to Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi and other senior Iranian officials to attend the UN General Assembly in September. In part, the senators wrote, “Raisi’s record as a violator of human rights is long-standing and clear. In 1988, during his tenure as the deputy prosecutor of Tehran, Raisi served on a four-member Death Commission which oversaw the killing of over 5,000 prisoners, including women and children. The Death Commission conducted interviews that lasted only minutes to determine a prisoner’s loyalty to the Islamic Republic of Iran, then sentenced them to death without a lawyer, right to appeal, or fair trial. The executions, conducted by hanging or firing squad, often occurred on the same day as the Death Commission’s interrogations. After burying the dead in unmarked mass graves, Iranian officials refused to notify families for months and never shared with them the locations of their graves. Raisi’s Death Commission executed children as young as 15.” “Ebrahim Raisi should remain sanctioned under U.S. law. If the United Nations General Assembly maintains its current plans to allow some in-person attendance, the White House should deny Raisi and other Iranian leaders visas to attend. Allowing Raisi to travel to the United States—to the same city where the Iranian regime just tried to kidnap a U.S. citizen—would legitimize his repression, undermine America’s moral leadership, and potentially endanger our national security, given the likely presence of intelligence agents in the Iranian traveling party,” the senators continued. Text of the letter … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-end-us-dependence-on-chinese-manufactured-pharmaceuticals Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to End U.S. Dependence on Chinese-Manufactured Pharmaceuticals 2021-07-28 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 28, 2021 Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to End U.S. Dependence on Chinese-Manufactured Pharmaceuticals Washington, D.C.—Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) along with Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Rick Scott (R-Florida), will today introduce the Protecting our Pharmaceutical Supply Chain from China Act, which would end U.S. dependence on China for pharmaceutical manufacturing. Specifically, the bill will: Track active pharmaceutical ingredients through an FDA registry. Prohibit pharmaceutical purchases from China or products with active pharmaceutical ingredients created in China*. Create transparency in the supply chain by instituting a country-of-origin label of all imported drugs. Provide economic incentives for manufacturing drugs and medical equipment in the United States. "The Chinese Communist Party has threatened to cut off America's access to vital drugs in the midst of a pandemic caused by its own failures. It's time to pull America's supply chains for life-saving medicine out of China and make the CCP pay for contributing to this global emergency,"said Cotton. “The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored America’s heavy dependence on China for critical prescription drugs,” said Blackburn. “We cannot continue to allow Beijing to hold the keys to our pharmaceutical supply chain and risk future drug shortages, contaminated drugs, or ineffective drugs. This legislation helps to ensure Communist China no longer plays a role in creating or providing U.S. prescription drugs and further incentivizes manufacturers to produce necessary medication on American soil.” “The majority of active ingredients for pharmaceuticals are made in China, and the Chinese Communist Party showed through their lies, coverups, and threats to cut off American access to drugs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that they can’t be trusted. I’m proud to join Senator Cotton’s bill to incentivi… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-warner-introduce-bill-to-prohibit-funding-for-huawei-chinese-technology Cotton, Warner Introduce Bill to Prohibit Funding for Huawei, Chinese Technology 2021-07-28 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 28, 2021 Cotton, Warner Introduce Bill to Prohibit Funding for Huawei, Chinese Technology Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Mark Warner (D-Virginia) introduced the American Telecommunications Security Act to prohibit federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act from being used to purchase Chinese telecommunications equipment, including from Huawei and ZTE. Text of the bill may be found here. "American tax dollars should not be sent to Chinese spy companies like Huawei that undermine our national security. The U.S government must take strong action to cut the Chinese Communist Party out of our networks. Americans deserve both reliable and secure telecommunications technologies," said Cotton. “With states across the country mapping out their plans for quality and affordable high-speed internet as a result of historic funding from the American Rescue Plan, we’ve got to make sure no community is sacrificing network security,” said Warner. “That’s why I’m joining Sen. Cotton on a bipartisan bill to ensure states do not purchase equipment or services from companies that pose national security risks – such as Huawei and ZTE.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-fund-the-police-act Cotton Introduces Fund the Police Act 2021-07-21 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 21, 2021 Cotton Introduces Fund the Police Act Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Fund the Police Act to reallocate $50 billion in unspent funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to establish a Law Enforcement Support Trust Fund at the United States Department of Justice and to support two federal grant programs to hire, train, and equip more state and local police officers. Text of the bill may be found here. “Some Democrats seem eager to rewrite history and hide their advocacy for ‘defunding the police,’ but that’s exactly what they’ve tried to do. My bill will immediately fund two federal grant programs to support police officers and establish a trust to maintain these grants for decades to come,” said Cotton. The Fund the Police Act will reallocate $50 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act to: Immediately provide $1 billion each to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne JAG Grants) and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office Grants. Create a Law Enforcement Support Trust Fund at the U.S. Department of Justice, which can be used to supply an additional $500 million per year for each of the Byrne JAG and COPS Office grant programs in future years. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-arkansas-youth-transgender-law Cotton Statement on Arkansas Youth Transgender Law 2021-07-21 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 21, 2021 Cotton Statement on Arkansas Youth Transgender Law Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding a court decision in Arkansas to place a hold on Arkansas’ law to ban transgender medical interventions for children: “Our legislature made the reasonable decision to protect minors from dangerous and life-altering drugs, hormones, and surgeries. Against the will of Arkansans, liberal activists have now put those children back in harm’s way.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-us-german-deal-on-russian-nord-stream-2-pipeline Cotton Statement on U.S.-German Deal on Russian Nord Stream 2 Pipeline 2021-07-20 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 20, 2021 Cotton Statement on U.S.-German Deal on Russian Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the news that the United States and Germany have reached a deal allowing completion of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline: “This deal is a grave mistake. It gives Vladimir Putin enormous leverage over the European Union and NATO, with no promise of enforcement when Putin inevitably turns the gas off in the winter. President Biden should impose sanctions on the pipeline to ensure it’s never completed.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/arkansas-congressional-delegation-recognizes-50th-anniversary-national Arkansas Congressional Delegation Recognizes 50th Anniversary of National Center for Toxicological Research 2021-07-15 2021 2021-07 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Today, Arkansas's U.S. Representatives Bruce Westerman, Rick Crawford, French Hill, and Steve Womack and U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton commemorated the 50th anniversary of the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) with the introduction of House and Senate resolutions recognizing this milestone. On August 11, 1971, President Richard Nixon established the NCTR in Jefferson, Arkansas. This Food and Drug Administration (FDA) research facility promotes and protects public health and provided critical support to Arkansas during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCTR employs 680 individuals who reside in 17 counties in Arkansas and contributes nearly $70 million to the state, local, and national economies. "The NTCR has been an invaluable addition to Arkansas' Fourth District and the nation," said Westerman. "The Fourth District is proud to host the only FDA site location outside the Washington, D.C. area, providing hundreds of jobs and millions in revenue to the state and the local economy. I am grateful for the vital work of NCTR's researchers and scientists to protect American consumers, and I am pleased to support its continued research through this resolution." "For half a century, the National Center for Toxicological Research has provided vital research and services to ensure that Americans have safe food, cosmetics, and medicine. Without such facilities, the United States would not be home to the world's safest and most abundant food supply. I'm proud that Arkansas continues to play a vital role in protecting the health and safety of Americans," Crawford said. "The NCTR has undoubtedly improved the lives of Arkansans and all Americans. I appreciate the contribution hundreds of Arkansans have made, through the NCTR, to the well-being of the people and economy of Arkansas. I am proud to recognize this momentous fifty-year anniversary and I am dedicated to supporting the NCTR's efforts towards a healthier, safer America," Hill said. Womack said, "The NCTR is a premier facility tha… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-applauds-omb-s-decision-on-msa-designation Rep. Crawford Applauds OMB’s Decision on MSA designation 2021-07-14 2021 2021-07 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Applauds OMB's Decision on MSA designation 7/14/2021 Washington — Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced modest revisions to their Standards for Delineating Core Based Statistical Areas. However, OMB announced the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population threshold would remain unchanged. This decision comes after Representative Crawford and several other Members of Congress sent a letter requesting that OMB doesn't follow through with their proposal of increasing the minimum population of MSA from 50,000 people to 100,000 people. "MSA designation has been a vital tool in keeping rural communities afloat during economic hardships. Changes like the one initially suggested would've furthered the divide between urban and rural America. I'm pleased that OMB saw the devastating impact their proposed changes to MSA requirements would have and decided to continue with the current stipulations," said Rep. Crawford. ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crawford-requests-information-on-chinese-ppe-dumping Rep. Crawford Requests Information on Chinese PPE Dumping 2021-07-14 2021 2021-07 Republican House AR Eric A. "Rick" Crawford C001087 crawford.house.gov crawford https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Rep. Crawford Requests Information on Chinese PPE Dumping 7/14/2021 Washington — Today, Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01), joined by 18 of his House colleagues, sent letters to the U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra requesting information on China's dumping of personal protective equipment (PPE) into the United States and their plans to curb these imports. The COVID-19 pandemic put into sharp focus the United States' alarming dependence on China for critical medical supplies, such as PPE. China purposely withheld much-needed PPE from the U.S., giving U.S. companies the opportunity to ramp up production in the wake of the pandemic. Now evidence strongly indicates that China has accelerated its PPE dumping, selling products well below the cost of U.S.-made PPE. Inaction is decimating the U.S. PPE industry, as companies lay off a significant portion of their workforce and more than 260 million American-made masks to sit in warehouses. Most recently, the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking companies to produce a total of 127 million disposable surgical masks over the next calendar year in the U.S. These masks will be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure safety requirements are met. "China continues its attempts to capitalize on supply chain vulnerabilities by dumping its cheap products into our market. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the danger of relying on other nations for critical supplies. The Biden Administration must take swift action to bolster our own PPE industry and hold China accountable for their constant aggressive behavior toward our economy." said Rep. Crawford. ####### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-statement-reversal-ombs-msa-population-threshold-rule-change Westerman Statement on Reversal of OMB’s MSA Population Threshold Rule Change 2021-07-14 2021 2021-07 Republican House AR Bruce Westerman W000821 westerman.house.gov westerman https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR) released the following statement on the reversal of the proposed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rule that would have raised the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population threshold from 50,000 to 100,000 people: "I commend OMB's decision to honor my request to reverse course on the harmful rule change that would have stymied the continued development of 144 communities in 45 states and Puerto Rico," said Congressman Westerman. "I am sincerely grateful for the ability to lead a bipartisan letter signed by Rep. Rick Crawford and 50 of my colleagues to OMB Acting Director Rob Fairweather voicing the concerns of members and see a favorable result. "Under the proposed rule change, the Arkansas cities of Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, and Jonesboro would have lost their classification as a Metropolitan Statistical Area, severely limiting their ability to access grants and federal funding to grow their economies. I will always fight to ensure Arkansas' smaller cities receive the same opportunities as larger cities to develop economically." Background On January 19, 2021, the Office of Management and Budget published a proposal in the Federal Register to change the population threshold for a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The current population threshold, which has been unchanged since 1950, is 50,000 or more persons. The proposed new threshold would have risen to 100,000 or more persons. This change would have caused 144 of the 392 MSAs to lose their designation. Declassified cities would have either lost access to some federal programs or see greatly diminished federal funding from those using the MSA designation as a qualifying factor. Some programs, like the Community Development Block Grant, Federal Transit Administration grants, and Medicare's prospective payment system for acute care hospital inpatients could have become inaccessible to these communities. On July 13, 2021, the White House released a press release announcing … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-introduces-bill-to-defund-critical-race-theory Cotton Introduces Bill to Defund Critical Race Theory 2021-07-14 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 14, 2021 Cotton Introduces Bill to Defund Critical Race Theory Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Stop CRT Act, legislation to bar federal funds from being sent to K-12 schools that promote Critical Race Theory, as well as colleges and universities that compel students or faculty to affirm tenets of Critical Race Theory. The Stop CRT Act would also codify former President Trump’s Executive Order on Race and Sex Discrimination, which would prohibit the federal government and federal contractors from using trainings inspired by Critical Race Theory. Representative Dan Bishop (R-North Carolina) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Critical Race Theory teaches people to obsess over race and to believe that America is an evil, oppressive place. Federal funds should not be used to support activists in schools who want to teach our kids to hate each other and their country,” said Cotton. “Critical Race Theory (CRT) is nothing more than state-sanctioned racism. Why should this poisonous, neo-Marxist ideology be funded by the federal government? CRT simply has no place in America’s schools, institutions, or the military. I applaud Senator Tom Cotton for taking up the Stop CRT Act in the Senate as it will fully defund efforts to put CRT into practice at the federal level, setting the right tone for the rest of the nation,” said Bishop. The Stop CRT Act of 2021 would: Bar federal funds to K-12 schools that promote Critical Race Theory, hire consultants to promote Critical Race Theory, or compel faculty members, students, or any other individual to affirm the tenets of Critical Race Theory Bar federal funds to colleges and universities that compel faculty, students, or any other individual to profess or affirm the tenets of Critical Race Theory Codify President Trump’s Executive Order on Preventing Race and Sex Stereotyping to prohibit the federal government… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-regarding-raytheon-diversity-training Cotton Demands Answers Regarding Raytheon Diversity Training 2021-07-13 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 13, 2021 Cotton Demands Answers Regarding Raytheon Diversity Training Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) wrote a letter to Gregory Hayes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raytheon Company, demanding information about the company’s use of training materials that rely heavily on racial stereotypes and appear to violate federal non-discrimination law. Cotton requested a response from Raytheon by July 23rd. In part, Cotton wrote, “The training materials in question, such as Raytheon’s ‘Stronger Together Employee Guide,’ encourage employees to become ‘anti-racists,’ a term popularized by Ibram X. Kendi, who the guide approvingly quotes. This material is rooted in a radical ideology called Critical Race Theory that denounces the United States as systemically racist and rejects important aspects of the American civil-rights tradition, including equality before the law.” “Setting aside the business sense of your company’s advocacy, Raytheon’s employee trainings appear to violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which forbids employers from discriminating on the basis of race or engaging in any activities that ‘limit, segregate, or classify’ employees,’”Cotton continued. Text of the letter may be found here or below. July 13, 2021 Mr. Gregory J. Hayes Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Raytheon Company 870 Winter Street Waltham, MA 02451-1449 Mr. Hayes, I’m writing in response to a troubling news story that alleges your company is using training materials that rely heavily on racial stereotypes and appear to violate federal non-discrimination law. The training materials in question, such as Raytheon’s “Stronger Together Employee Guide,” encourage employees to become “anti-racists,” a term popularized by Ibram X. Kendi, who the guide approvingly quotes. This material is rooted in a radical ideology called Critical Race Theory that denounces the United States as systemically racist and rejects imp… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-delivery-of-a-report-on-the-fighting-culture-of-the-navys-surface-fleet Cotton Statement on Delivery of A Report on the Fighting Culture of the Navy’s Surface Fleet 2021-07-12 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 12, 2021 Cotton Statement on Delivery of A Report on the Fighting Culture of the Navy’s Surface Fleet Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the delivery of A Report on the Fighting Culture of the United States Navy’s Surface Fleet. Cotton, along with Representatives Jim Banks (R-Indiana), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), and Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin), directed this investigation into the Navy’s culture after several high-profile losses of sailors and warships. The full report may be found here. “The findings of this report are very concerning. Our sailors are too often deprived of the training and leadership they need to fight and win at sea. A Navy that puts lethality, warfighting, and operational excellence at the heart of its culture is absolutely essential to our national security. America counts on the Navy to keep us safe and keep our seas open. I appreciate the hard work of the distinguished veterans who wrote this report. I intend to work with them, Navy leaders, and my colleagues in Congress to implement the report’s recommendations,” said Cotton. “This report doesn’t mince words. At a time when the Navy’s readiness is more critical than ever before, this report depicts a Navy leadership that’s distracted from the number one threat to American national security: The Chinese Communist Party. As China’s Navy exceeds ours in size, the U.S. Navy must be ready to face any threat. I look forward to implementing the recommendations of the report and refocusing our Navy on threats from China,” said Banks. “A strong Navy is critical to our national security interests around the world. The findings clearly indicate that our sailors are not receiving the training they need to perform the essential functions of the Navy: to find and sink enemy fleets and ensure freedom of navigation. We must immediately address the concerns detailed in the report. I look forward to working w… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-statement-on-supreme-court-decision-regarding-arizona-voting-provisions Cotton Statement on Supreme Court Decision Regarding Arizona Voting Provisions 2021-07-01 2021 2021-07 Republican Senate AR Tom Cotton C001095 www.cotton.senate.gov cotton https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353 July 1, 2021 Cotton Statement on Supreme Court Decision Regarding Arizona Voting Provisions Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement regarding the decision by the United States Supreme Court to uphold two Arizona voting provisions: “Ballot harvesting—particularly when practiced by political activists—should be illegal. I was proud to join my colleagues in an amicus brief in support of Arizona’s election integrity measures, and I’m glad the Supreme Court has ruled in favor.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z

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