Weekly Wrap-Up: July 7, 2014 - July 11, 2014

Statement

House Foreign Affairs Committee
Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on the state of human rights in Southeast Asia. The hearing gave the committee the opportunity to hear from regional experts about the critical human rights issues they see throughout the area. Recognizing the promotion of democracy and human rights are vital to foreign policy. Click here to learn more. Thursday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on the future of international civilian nuclear cooperation--which is the international legal framework under which countries are permitted to have peaceful nuclear programs. Specifically, this hearing examined the role of civilian nuclear cooperation agreements in U.S. foreign policy.

House Financial Services Committee
Thursday, the House Financial Services Committee examined legislation to reform the Federal Reserve and its conduct of monetary policy. After multiple expansions of the central bank's balance sheet, many Arkansans can sense that their dollar just isn't going as far as it used to. The Fed has veered too far away from a strong dollar with discretionary monetary interventions, leading to compromised independence and market volatility. This legislation would direct the Fed to follow a clear rules-based policy, as well as to conduct cost-benefit analyses prior to implementing certain new financial regulations.

Federal Disaster Assistance for Arkansas Farmers and Ranchers
Tuesday, the Arkansas Delegation wrote to USDA Secretary Vilsack expressing our support of Governor Beebe's request for federal disaster assistance for Arkansas farmers and ranchers affected by recent severe weather . I was pleased to see Secretary Vilsack granted Governor Beebe's request and I appreciate his swift action on this matter.

Association of Mature American Citizens Award
Thursday, I was honored to receive an award from the Association of Mature American Citizens for my work in Congress to protect and advance the interests of seniors. I am grateful for this recognition and I will continue to work hard to protect seniors.

Arkansas 4-H Delegates in DC
It was wonderful to see 4-H delegates from Arkansas in DC on Wednesday for the Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF), a 4-H program. We discussed what they had been doing in DC so far and how they work to embody the 4-H motto, "to make the best better." My mom, Avis, took her first trip to Washington, D.C. with a 4H group in 1964 representing Lonoke County. I know she has fond memories of this trip and I hope my visitors this week will carry their memories with them for a lifetime.

Arkansas Farm Credit Meeting
It was great to see board members of Arkansas Farm Credit in DC this week and discuss the loan programs they have for new farmers, their efforts to help veterans, and the impact of the recent floods on agriculture across the state.

Surplus Military Vehicles Exempted from Emission Standards
This week, the Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency reached an agreement allowing surplus military vehicles to be exempt from new emission standards. You may not know that the Department of the Defense loans, or sells cheaply, excess equipment to communities across the country--including several in Arkansas. The surplus program was set to end as the Environmental Protection Agency ordered the Department of Defense to destroy all surplus equipment that did not meet their new emissions standards. This agreement means this important program will continue.

Staff-led Veterans Assistance Sessions
Members of my staff will be holding Veterans Assistance Sessions in Monticello and Hamburg on July 22, 2014 to provide information and answer any VA related questions.

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