Weekly Columns
In today’s world, access to information and connection to others can be most easily found in a small rectangular device in our back pockets. Gone are the days when you had to go to the library to research an issue or find an answer to a question in a book. We no longer have phone booths or even landlines when trying to reach someone by phone. With the internet and phone combined in our back pockets, access to information and others has never been easier than it is today.
America is blessed with an abundance of fuel to produce reliable, diversified, and accessible energy, but the consumption demands are creating supply challenges. It is senseless on many levels to throttle instead of grow energy supply as we have seen in the past. American energy supports thousands of jobs, is essential for economic prosperity, and bolsters our national security.
For four years, the American people have been in last place. Under the previous administration, Americans felt increasing financial burdens, economic woes, and safety concerns at every turn. Countless constituents across the Fourth District called our offices in Washington D.C. and Arkansas to express their deep concerns with how they were going to keep their families safe, warm, and fed. So, in November, when it was time for the American people to cast their vote, they voted for prosperity, for relief, and for solutions.
The devastating wildfires in California serve as a reminder that we must change course and implement sound forest management practices to help prevent future catastrophic wildfires. This week, I was proud of the strong bipartisan support for the Fix Our Forests Act, a bill I introduced that passed the House by a vote of 279-141.
To many, forestry is simply viewed as the trees planted in someone’s backyard, shade during an outdoor activity, or nature’s greatest indicator of the changing of the seasons. But for Arkansans, forestry is a way of life. As the heart of America’s woodbasket, Arkansas is covered by 19 million acres of forestland that provides not only scenic beauty, clean air and water, wildlife habitats, and opportunities for outdoor recreation, but is also a major economic driver.
After four years of countless blows to American energy production, the Biden administration has once again proven that they have no interest in putting our country and our national security first. A midnight ruling proved that this administration has no desire to work toward American energy dominance as a ban on oil and gas production in more than 600 million acres of federal waters was announced earlier this week.
Serving friends and neighbors across the Fourth District of Arkansas in the halls of Congress through drafting and voting on legislation is a great honor, and certainly a major role that Members of Congress play as elected officials. However, there is an equally important role to play while elected to such a position: taking care of the needs of the people represented back home in their everyday lives, through casework and other needed assistance.
It’s impossible to enter the holiday season, and ultimately the end of the year, without pausing to reflect on the trials and triumphs throughout the past twelve months. Constituents across the Fourth District have felt the weight of increasing gas prices, grocery and electric bills, the impacts of natural disasters, and continued federal overreach. Many of you can agree that while there were definite moments of uncertainty, our nation, and the American people, charged forward with strength and a resiliency that can only be defined as the American Spirit.
Throughout the 118th Congress, it was a privilege to introduce legislation with direct impacts to Arkansas and the Fourth District. This week, it was exciting to see many of those bills pass the Senate – an early Christmas gift to AR-04!
While we ready ourselves for the end of another year with a new Congress on the horizon, make no mistake that there is still much work to be done. This week, the House voted to pass the Servicemember and Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25 NDAA). House Republicans continue to deliver on their promise to the American people to increase border security, bolster national defense, deter global adversaries, support Israel, and provide the support necessary to improve the lives of our servicemembers and their families.