Weekly Columns
The countdown is officially on for the Great North American Eclipse. On April 8th, the sun, moon, and earth will align perfectly for a Total Solar Eclipse, and Arkansas is the prime location to view it. The path of totality will stretch over 100 miles across 53 counties in the Natural States, including a handful of major cities in Arkansas’ Fourth Congressional District: Texarkana, Russellville, and Murfreesboro.
In 1972, Congress enacted the Clean Water Act to support clean water, healthy communities, and industries throughout our economy. When farmers and ranchers, builders, and manufacturers obtain a permit to start a project, the Clean Water Act is meant to serve as a tool to protect clean water for our nation. Unfortunately, over the years, the federal government has weaponized the Clean Water Act to delay, stall, or block permits for critical energy, transportation infrastructure, and other commercial projects.
As social media becomes more integral to our daily lives, the need for security to protect Americans from foreign adversaries online has become increasingly prevalent. Bad actors, like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), have taken advantage of the growing U.S. footprint online by utilizing Chinese-owned apps, like TikTok, to target, surveil, and manipulate Americans.
In 2021, while stationed in Japan, Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis was driving down a mountain road with his wife, Brittany, and their three children. As he was driving, Ridge suffered a terrible case of altitude sickness that caused him to lose consciousness at the wheel, resulting in a tragic and unfortunate accidental car crash that left two Japanese citizens dead.
Nearly seven months ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, a strong and bipartisan reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.
The historic crisis at our border is raging on, with each new day bringing thousands of illegal immigrants and deadly drugs into our communities. This crisis did not happen by accident. In President Biden’s first 100 days in office, he took 94 executive actions to weaken our immigration policies, including halting construction of the border wall. In August 2022, his Administration doubled down by formally ending the Remain-in-Mexico policy that had been proven to combat illegal immigration.
Spring break is just around the corner, and Arkansans are gearing up for travel. During the pandemic, many people put their travel plans on hold, and now that travel restrictions are lifted, more and more people are traveling abroad. If you plan to travel internationally, I encourage you to check your passports before it’s too late.
Navigating health care for individuals with a disability or a chronic illness can be difficult; the federal government should not create barriers or make it more difficult than it already is. This week, I voted to pass H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act of 2023. This legislation will take strides to expand access to lifesaving cures and prevents discrimination against Americans with disabilities by prohibiting the use of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) in all federal programs.
In the latest extremist move in their ongoing attack on American energy, the Biden Administration recently announced a decision to halt all pending approvals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals. This blatant political move to appease radical climate activists is a major loss for the environment, our economy, the geopolitical landscape, and our national security all wrapped up in one bonehead rule.
Nearly 99% of our nation’s farms and ranches and over 95% of our nation’s small businesses are owned and operated by individuals and families. Family-owned businesses and family farms that have been passed down for generations fuel our economy. Managing a small business or farm operation is no small feat, especially with the current economic climate, and especially for families, which is why it’s a shame that the federal government sees these operations as an opportunity for increased tax revenue.