Weekly Columns
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.
One of my favorite things about being a member of Congress is meeting with talented students from the Fourth District. I am always amazed at the variety of art, literature, community projects and research from young Arkansans. That's why I'm excited to announce that registration for the 2019 Congressional App Challenge is now open to any middle or high school student in my district.
Growing up in rural Arkansas, I've seen how important local pharmacies are to their communities. These pharmacies provide so much more than prescriptions – they often stock everything from soap to socks. Large-scale chain pharmacies just don't have the same appeal and can't offer the same level of personal service.
August is for Arkansas
By U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman
This summer has been nonstop in Washington. Voting on legislation, meeting with visiting groups, speaking at events and much more fill every day with activity. As much as I enjoy working on your behalf in D.C., I am really looking forward to time in Arkansas this August.
These days, turning on the news is nothing short of exhausting. Government leaders, talking heads on TV, social media users – everyone has an opinion, and everyone is voicing that opinion louder and louder. Just a few days ago, House Speaker Pelosi was formally reprimanded on the House floor because she couldn't even talk about President Trump without violating House rules of conduct.