Welcome to "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of April 20, 2025! This is Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives remain away from Washington, D.C., as part of a two-week break from legislative business.

When lawmakers return to Capitol Hill at the end of the month, they will not have much time to finalize plans for meeting congressional Republicans' goals of spending reductions and preserving the 2017 tax cuts.

Senate and House committees have received instructions to finalize their recommendations by May 9, with House leaders already eyeing a vote on a reconciliation bill before the Memorial Day holiday.

Visit ArkansasOnline.com for the full story.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., had a successful first quarter of fundraising in support of his reelection effort.

Cotton, of Little Rock, ended the first three months of the year with $8.4 million in his campaign's reserves.

Cotton and other candidates for federal office submitted reports to the Federal Election Committee last week detailing their campaign's fundraising efforts and expenses through 2025 so far.

STORY: Cotton starts reelection effort with $8.4 million on hand after first quarter

Thanks 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 for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of April 13, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of April 6, 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 weekend began with a late night on Capitol Hill; the U.S. Senate worked until early Saturday morning on approving a budget plan with steps to cut spending and preserve the 2017 tax law.

Arkansas' two senators — Republicans John Boozman, of Rogers, and Tom Cotton, of Little Rock — supported the framework, which still needs the House of Representatives' approval.

Congressional Democrats oppose the plan, voicing concerns about the future of government services like Medicaid and food stamps if Republicans succeed in securing spending reductions.

STORY: U.S. Senate approves budget framework; Boozman, Cotton back plan

The Senate's consideration of the framework followed two chaotic days for U.S. stocks. Markets reacted negatively to the Trump administration's tariff plan affecting international goods imported into the United States.

During a telephone town hall, Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., acknowledged tariffs have been part of the country's "trade diplomacy" efforts, but he pushed back against the decision to enforce a sweeping tariff strategy affecting all foreign products.

STORY: Hill hosts telephone town hall event

The House Financial Services Committee advanced a bill to establish a regulatory framework for certain digital assets.

The STABLE Act would set federal oversight affecting payment stablecoins, which are digital assets whose value is pegged to traditional assets like the U.S. dollar.

Hill, of Little Rock, chairs the House Financial Services Committee.

STORY: House committee approves regulatory bill for stablecoin

Arkansas investment banker Warren Stephens faced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Stephens is the second Arkansan to receive a nomination from the Trump administration; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee appeared before senators in late March to discuss the possibility of serving as the next ambassador to Israel.

STORY: Stephens faces U.S. Senate panel in pursuit of U.K. ambassadorship

Thanks for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of March 30, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Much of the recent talk around Capitol Hill has focused on how Trump administration officials discussed a recent military operation and one journalist's access to their messages.

The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he was part of a group chat on the Signal platform with top leaders, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The participants used the chat to discuss an attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

This group chat's existence dominated separate hearings last week held by the Senate and House of Representatives Intelligence committees.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., chair these panels. Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., serves on the House Intelligence Committee.

STORY: Cotton highlights local FBI work amid intense U.S. Senate hearing

STORY: Crawford, Hill participate in intelligence hearing amid questions about group chat

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee spent time before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Huckabee faced questions last Tuesday as President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as ambassador to Israel.

Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israel, said his job — if confirmed — would be to "represent the president and his policies" rather than his own positions.

STORY: Former Gov. Huckabee looks to advance Trump administration’s vision in ambassadorship

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board told lawmakers in both chambers that her agency is continuing to review possible solutions to prevent close aircraft encounters around airports.

Jennifer Homendy's appearances on Capitol Hill occurred nearly two months after a fatal collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport between a commercial plane and a U.S. Army helicopter.

STORY: Womack asks NTSB chair about D.C. airport collision, failure to prevent incident

Thanks for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of March 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.

Capitol Hill was a quiet place last week as senators and House members spent time in their home states and districts.

When lawmakers return to the nation's capital on Monday, many people will be anticipating future discussions involving a possible budget reconciliation plan advancing President Donald Trump's agenda.

One agriculture advocacy organization hopes the Senate and House of Representatives, as part of a possible deal, keep Inflation Reduction Act funds for farm conservation programs. Arkansas farmers are currently slated to receive $665 million for conservation efforts as a result of Joe Biden's signature climate change law.

For the full story, read Monday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., is anticipating the Environmental Protection Agency's upcoming revision of a key water regulation.

EPA administrator Lee Zeldin announced earlier this month his agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shall review the "waters of the United States" definition and waterways eligible for regulatory protection from pollutants.

Boozman, of Rogers, joined congressional colleagues at EPA headquarters for Zeldin's announcement concerning the pending revision.

STORY: Boozman wants certainty with water protections as EPA reviews rule

Thanks for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of March 16, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The Senate and House of Representatives did their parts in preventing a government shutdown, passing a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through September.

Lawmakers had to approve this spending measure before the weekend after the previous Congress failed to pass their 12 annual appropriations measures.

All six members of the Arkansas congressional delegation backed the continuing resolution.

STORY: Arkansas representatives react to six-month federal funding resolution

STORY: U.S. Senate passes 6-month funding bill with support from Boozman, Cotton

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee continued receiving input on possible changes to Farm Bill programs with lawmakers eyeing passage of new legislation later this year.

Ben Noble, the executive vice president and COO of Stuttgart-based Riceland Foods, appeared before the Senate committee last Tuesday to discuss challenges facing producers with an outdated farm safety net and stagnant commodity reference prices.

STORY: U.S. Senate hearing focused on agriculture financial straits with pressing farm bill need

Thanks for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!

Welcome to "Arkies in the Beltway!" This is Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and I'm here with your Arkansas-centric look at national politics for the week of March 9, 2025!

Members of Arkansas' congressional delegation attended President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress last week. These Arkansans left the U.S. Capitol late last Tuesday expressing optimism about Trump's return to the White House and his leadership so far.

STORY: Arkansas' congressional delegation lauds Trump's address

The House of Representatives Financial Services Committee advanced legislation addressing a recent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule on overdraft fees.

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., introduced House Joint Resolution 59 in February. The measure would prevent the agency from implementing the change and issuing similar policies for the foreseeable future.

STORY: Hill’s proposal to invalidate limits on overdraft fees gets House panel’s OK

Meanwhile, members of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee began consideration of Rep. Bruce Westerman's bill addressing forest management and wildfires.

The House approved the Fix Our Forests Act in January. Westerman, a Hot Springs Republican, and California Democrat Scott Peters pushed the legislation through Congress' lower chamber.

STORY: U.S. Senate committee begins consideration of Westerman forest bill

Thanks for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of March 2, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have passed separate budget resolutions addressing President Donald Trump and Republicans' top policy goals. Now, they have to reach a compromise.

The House last week approved a blueprint with $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and sights on $2 trillion in spending cuts. All four of Arkansas' House members supported this plan.

House Democrats have voiced concerns about how the proposal could affect government services, including Medicaid and nutrition programs.

STORY: Arkansas’ U.S. House delegation backs 10-year budget blueprint to reduce spending, taxes

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is running for re-election.

Cotton, of Little Rock, launched his bid for another six-year term last Thursday.

The senator has emerged as a leading Republican figure on Capitol Hill; Cotton chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and serves on the Senate GOP leadership team.

STORY: Cotton officially kicks off reelection bid

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., is again pushing a bill to expand the Flatside Wilderness Area in Central Arkansas.

Hill's legislation would add more than 2,200 acres of the Ouachita National Forest to this protected space.

STORY: Hill trying for third time to expand Central Arkansas’ Flatside Wilderness Area

Thanks 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 for developments from the nation's capital!