Weekly Columns

Because Arkansas relies so heavily on its multi-billion-dollar timber industry for economic success, it is vital that we maintain continuous and modernized forest health research. These studies are crucial to conserving important ecosystems and ensuring our forests remain resilient to threats like invasive species, wildfire, and other kinds of natural impacts.

Working closely with state and local officials is integral to representing the Fourth District in Congress well. While I regularly travel throughout the district to meet with local leaders, it’s always great to welcome them – and any Arkansans – to our nation’s capital. This week, my staff and I enjoyed hosting the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C.

From farming to health care, these industry and community leaders came ready to share more about how I can work to push their goals across the finish line on the federal level.

In its earliest days, our nation relied heavily on wood. From our buildings to transportation needs and even fuel, timber became one of our most valued resources.

During the turn of the century, the railroad brought opportunity for further expansion out west. But it also brought with it the need for more wood. Crossties, bridges, train stations, and even the fuel for the trains demanded more wood than we were already consuming.

As the most foundational building block of our federal framework, federalism – or the division of power between a central national government and individual state governments – is essential to upholding the American ideal of checks and balances, ensuring that no single entity retains too much power. 

The first draft for our government’s framework, the Articles of Confederation, proved unsuccessful – as most first drafts usually are – because too much power was placed into the hands of the states. 

It’s time for the federal government to stop fiddling while America burns. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, over 40,000 fires have burned nearly 4 million acres across the United States so far this year.

We’ve seen countless American lives upended by wildfire. Families have lost loved ones, communities have lost homes and businesses, and thousands of firefighters risk their lives to protect their friends and neighbors.

Water resources infrastructure touches every American, from protecting homes against flooding to keeping goods moving through our ports and waterways. Every other year, Congress works to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that makes critical investments to strengthen these essential systems.

As a water-rich state, Arkansas depends heavily on the passage of WRDA. This week, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure successfully voted to send this piece of legislation to the House Floor.