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In its earliest days, our nation relied heavily on wood. From our buildings to transportation needs and even fuel, timber became one of our most valued resources.

During the turn of the century, the railroad brought opportunity for further expansion out west. But it also brought with it the need for more wood. Crossties, bridges, train stations, and even the fuel for the trains demanded more wood than we were already consuming.

As the most foundational building block of our federal framework, federalism – or the division of power between a central national government and individual state governments – is essential to upholding the American ideal of checks and balances, ensuring that no single entity retains too much power. 

The first draft for our government’s framework, the Articles of Confederation, proved unsuccessful – as most first drafts usually are – because too much power was placed into the hands of the states. 

It’s time for the federal government to stop fiddling while America burns. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, over 40,000 fires have burned nearly 4 million acres across the United States so far this year.

We’ve seen countless American lives upended by wildfire. Families have lost loved ones, communities have lost homes and businesses, and thousands of firefighters risk their lives to protect their friends and neighbors.

Water resources infrastructure touches every American, from protecting homes against flooding to keeping goods moving through our ports and waterways. Every other year, Congress works to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that makes critical investments to strengthen these essential systems.

As a water-rich state, Arkansas depends heavily on the passage of WRDA. This week, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure successfully voted to send this piece of legislation to the House Floor.

We all have a story to tell regarding our time in the classroom. Whether it was staying up late to finish a homework assignment, gathering with classmates to prepare for an upcoming exam, or even participating in extracurricular activities, our time from elementary to high school was deeply rooted in our homes and our communities.

Partisan disagreements are not new to our country. From the very beginning, our nation has wrestled with compromising ideas or priorities, differing regional interests, and deeply held beliefs. Even in 1787, when our Constitution was drafted and signed, representatives from every colony were present, advocating for what they believed best served their states.

During the tense debating at this historic gathering, Benjamin Franklin reflected on the uncertainty of the moment. Would they be successful in drafting a Constitution?

For decades, a student’s dyslexia diagnosis meant falling behind or underperforming academically with long-lasting impacts reverberating into adulthood. Studies have shown that students who lack critical reading skills are more likely to drop out of school early, less likely to find well-paying jobs, and even risk spending time in the criminal justice system.