Arkies in the Beltway

Week of December 21, 2025

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Dec. 21, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with one last look for the year at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have completed legislative business for the year, as lawmakers left Capitol Hill last week for the holidays. One of the last bills to receive the House's approval: Rep. Bruce Westerman's legislation addressing permitting for energy and infrastructure projects. Westerman, of Hot Springs, and Maine Democrat Jared Golden introduced the SPEED Act in late July with the intent of expediting environmental reviews and curtailing challenges that hinder project completion. STORY: U.S. House passes Westerman-backed bill to speed infrastructure permits, scale back environmental law [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/dec/18/us-house-passes-westerman-backed-bill-to-speed/] Arkansas could feel the impact of this year’s annual defense policy measure, thanks to language calling for expanding munitions production. President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law last Thursday. This year's measure prioritizes domestic munitions production, which could result in more activity at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Jefferson County. STORY: Arkansas military installations get attention in National Defense Authorization Act [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/dec/20/arkansas-military-installations-get-attention-in/] Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com [https://www.arkansasonline.com/].

Week of December 14, 2025

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Dec. 14, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions. Arkansas farm leaders are thankful for the White House’s plan to help agriculture, but they remain uneasy about farming's immediate future. The Trump administration plans to provide farmers across the country with one-time relief payments in the coming months. The package totals $12 billion, with row crop farmers set to receive most of the funds. STORY: Arkansas farmers thankful, remain uneasy following Trump economic relief announcement [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/dec/08/arkansas-farmers-thankful-remain-uneasy-following/] The Trump administration announced the relief package during a roundtable last Monday at the White House. Two Arkansans — U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Crittenden County farmer Charles Williams — joined other lawmakers and farmers for the event. Read the full story in Monday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette. [https://www.arkansasonline.com/staff/alex-thomas/] The Arkansas Army National Guard continues its mission in the nation’s capital. Roughly 100 National Guard members arrived in Washington, D.C., earlier this month to assist local law enforcement. The topic of deploying National Guard units to cities across the country was the subject of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last Thursday. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., serves on the committee. The Little Rock senator defended the president's ability to use the National Guard and military units in American cities, citing President Dwight Eisenhower's 1957 decision to send federal troops to Little Rock to desegregate Little Rock Central High School. STORY: Cotton defends Trump’s National Guard deployments to U.S. cities, compares them to Central High crisis [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/dec/11/cotton-defends-trumps-national-guard-deployments/] The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced David Clay Fowlkes' nomination to the full chamber for its consideration. President Donald Trump nominated Fowlkes to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. The Arkansan currently serves as the district's U.S. attorney. STORY: U.S. Senate committee advances Fowlkes judicial nomination [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/dec/11/us-senate-committee-advances-fowlkes-judicial/] Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/alexhousethomas.bsky.social] for more developments from the nation's capital!

Week of December 7, 2025

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Dec. 7, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions. Members of Arkansas' congressional delegation back recent U.S. military strikes against boats traveling from Latin America. The Trump administration has embraced these attacks as part of its strategy to confront drug trafficking. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton and Rep. Rick Crawford heard more information about these strikes in closed-door briefings. Cotton, of Little Rock, and Crawford, of Jonesboro, lead the Senate and House intelligence committees, respectively. STORY: Arkansas lawmakers back Trump administration on legality of recent military strikes in Caribbean Sea [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/dec/03/womack-says-he-assumes-caribbean-boat-was/] Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/alexhousethomas.bsky.social] for more developments from the nation's capital!

Week of November 23, 2025

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Nov. 23, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions. The Justice Department has less than 30 days to release unclassified records about Jeffrey Epstein. President Donald Trump signed legislation last Wednesday requiring the department to publish information about Epstein, his criminal activities and his 2019 death at a New York City prison. Arkansas Republicans Rick Crawford, French Hill and Bruce Westerman joined almost every other House member in supporting legislation requiring the release. The Senate approved the bill through a unanimous consent motion. STORY: U.S. House overwhelmingly passes bill to release Epstein files, including Crawford, Hill and Westerman [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/nov/18/us-house-overwhelmingly-passes-bill-to-release/] Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., missed votes last week. The Rogers congressman was away from Capitol Hill because of a serious medical issue involving a family member. Womack had the House's longest active voting streak, casting 8,823 consecutive votes between Jan. 5, 2011, and last Monday. STORY: Womack’s voting streak ends after more than 8,800 votes [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/nov/17/womacks-unbroken-voting-streak-ends-after-more/] Westerman, of Hot Springs, wants the House to consider his permitting legislation before Congress takes its late December holiday break. The House Natural Resources Committee has favorably reported the SPEED Act to the full chamber. Westerman and Maine Democrat Jared Golden introduced the measure in late July. The Hot Springs congressman also chairs the House committee. The SPEED Act would limit environmental reviews for energy and infrastructure projects. Westerman hopes this change will expedite environmental assessments and help companies complete projects at a faster rate. STORY: Westerman helps advance House bill to speed infrastructure permits, scale back environmental assessments [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/nov/20/westerman-helps-advance-house-bill-to-speed/] Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is pushing the Department of Agriculture to speed up its review of potential economic assistance for farmers. The department has been studying relief options as farming operations in Arkansas and across the country struggle due to low crop prices, high input costs and changing trade dynamics. STORY: Cotton asks U.S. Agriculture Secretary to speed up relief for farmers [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/nov/20/cotton-asks-us-agriculture-secretary-to-speed-up/] Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" Our next episode will be Dec. 7, as senators and House members are spending this week away from Capitol Hill for Thanksgiving. In the meantime, you can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/alexhousethomas.bsky.social] for more developments from the nation's capital!

Week of November 16, 2025

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Nov. 16, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions. The federal government shutdown ended last Wednesday when President Donald Trump signed a Senate plan to restore funding across the government. All six members of Arkansas' congressional delegation backed the proposal, which maintains current funding levels for most federal agencies through Jan. 30. The legislation additionally funds agriculture, military construction and veterans affairs programs, as well as congressional operations, for the rest of the fiscal year. The plan did not include language addressing the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which will expire Dec. 31. Senate Democrats opposed an initial funding plan, citing the lack of attention toward extending these tax credits. STORY: Boozman, Cotton support Senate plan to end government shutdown [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/nov/10/boozman-cotton-support-senate-plan-to-end-government-shutdown/] STORY: Arkansas delegation backs bill to reopen government; Westerman says no one ‘gained anything’ from shutdown [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/nov/12/arkansas-delegation-backs-bill-to-reopen/] STORY: Arkansas’ Hallie Shoffner says government shutdown shows need for change on Capitol Hill [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/nov/11/arkansas-hallie-shoffner-says-government-shutdown/] Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/alexhousethomas.bsky.social] for more developments from the nation's capital!