Do Not Redefine Our Cities

Recently, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to increase the population threshold for a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) to 100,000 or more persons. The current population threshold of 50,000 or more persons has been unchanged since 1950. Declassified cities will either lose access to some federal programs or see greatly diminished federal funding from those using the MSA designation as a qualifying factor.

This proposed rule change would negatively impact the Fourth District's cities of Hot Springs, Texarkana and Pine Bluff. That is why I sent a letter to OMB in March requesting a denial of the proposed rule change. OMB had provided no reasonable justification for ending a 70-year precedent that could detrimentally hinder the economic development of communities in Arkansas and across America. It is important that our smaller cities are provided every opportunity to grow and thrive.

I was glad to be joined by my friends across the aisle to fight against this unnecessary and harmful policy change. As we turn the corner of the pandemic, now is not the time to undermine the recovery of our local businesses. Favoritism of larger cities by OMB is unacceptable and I will continue to voice my strong opposition to this proposed rule change.