Weekly Columns

I've lived in Arkansas my whole life and have spent years fishing and hunting in the best lakes and forests, but I am constantly taken aback by the beauty of our state when I visit new places. As members of Congress headed back to their districts for the beginning of October, I was able to see some of these new places through a tourism tour across the region.

While news stations focused on impeachment this week, a huge win for American farmers and ranchers slipped quietly under the radar. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed phase one of a U.S.-Japan trade deal, and the agreement is set to go into effect this coming January.

Seasonal change always brings a new round of cleaning and organizing in my house, and the federal government would do well to follow this example. I often talk about bureaucracy and red tape slowing down good governance, and there is perhaps no better example of this than in the way the federal government catalogues its assets.

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have played a critical role in our country for decades. These higher education institutions have long been dedicated to serving the African-American community, even before President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

As Congress's August recess concludes, I've had the opportunity to wrap up some much-needed time in the district with a week of forestry meetings. Both Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Vicki Christiansen visited Arkansas this week, and their time in the Natural State highlighted the importance of forest management.

The federal appropriations process has been broken for decades, and this year was no different. Spending bills should be bipartisan, yet House Democrats sent partisan appropriations bills to the Senate, where they have no hope of passage.

Are you a college student or recent graduate with an interest in government and policy? Come join my office as an intern! We are always looking for talented young people from Arkansas to join our team, both in the district and in D.C. offices.

It doesn't seem like that long ago that I was sworn in to this session of Congress, yet it's already August. The speed of politics shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon and that only makes time go faster.