Weekly Columns

As Coronavirus continues spreading across the U.S., I urge everyone to exercise caution and work to protect your own health and the health of your friends and family. Many of you have called or written to me asking for more information, so Congressman French Hill and I hosted a telephone town hall to answer questions. Dr. Nate Smith from the Arkansas Department of Health joined us on the line, and his advice was so valuable.

The best ways to protect yourself and others from sickness are to thoroughly and regularly wash your hands, avoid touching your face, sanitize doorknobs, phones, keyboards and other commonly used surfaces and stay home if you're feeling sick. Even as Coronavirus (also referred to as COVID-19) dominates news headlines, these commonsense measures are still the best way to guard against getting sick.

Over the decades, government leaders have handed down various decisions about what people can and cannot do before certain ages. For example, young people can't drive before 16, vote until 18, or buy alcohol before 21. Now we're starting to see a surge in unsafe tobacco products form addictions in youth, and I'm encouraged to see this administration taking action to curb systemic issues. Unfortunately, H.R. 2339, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone's (D-N.J.) "Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019," is not the answer we need, for several reasons.

Since our congressional district is so large, diverse and rural, it's often difficult for every resident to have easy access to the assistance that my district offices provide. Voicing concerns, getting help with a casework file, requesting a meeting or locating other constituent services aren't always available in your local community.

If you've ever spent time around me, you'll know it's no secret that I love talking about trees. I still remember conversations with my Sunday school teacher, Mr. Culpepper, a WWII veteran and member of the first forestry class at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He's the one who ignited my love of forestry, and I've been thinking about him a lot lately as I've written the Trillion Trees Act. What Mr. Culpepper – or anyone who remembers their eighth-grade biology class – would tell you is that trees are some of the most powerful carbon capture devices we have.

The U.S. Constitution requires that the president give a State of the Union address "from time to time," in order to inform the American people on national matters. This address has become an annual tradition, and it's always a big night on Capitol Hill as we hear directly from the president on the year behind us and what's to come.

Trade with international allies is the backbone of the American economy. Importing and exporting goods and services not only sustains millions of American jobs, but it also provides the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the cars we drive and much more. Two of our most important trading partners are our neighbors to the north and south, Canada and Mexico. That's why the United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA) is such a boost for American manufacturing and agriculture.

One of the most basic human rights is the right to life. It's the first right the Founding Fathers outlined in the Declaration of Independence, and it's a right men and women have fought to protect for generations. But sadly, we continue seeing many deny this right to life to millions of unborn children in America. I am and always will be pro-life, because I believe everyone deserves this fundamental, God-given right.