Weekly Wrap-Up: July 14, 2014 - July 18, 2014

Statement

House Foreign Affairs Committee
Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a subcommittee hearing to discuss the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). ISIL has taken over large territories in Syria and northern Iraq and is now controlling more territory than any other al-Qaeda affiliate or ideologically sympathetic terrorist group. This group poses one of the greatest threats to U.S. security interests in the Middle East. Wednesday, the committee also met to review Iran's destabilizing role throughout the Middle East -- including Iraq, Syria, and Gaza. Witnesses assessed how Iran will respond to the looming deadline to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on their nuclear program. The hearing also examined strategies for effectively countering Iran's destructive activities.

House Financial Services Committee
Tuesday, the House Financial Services Committee held a subcommittee hearing to discuss much-needed regulatory relief proposals for community banks, including my bill, the American Savings Promotion Act (H.R. 3374). It seems that too few Americans have learned the importance of savings. In 2012, the annual savings rate in the United States was just 4.1 percent. That is why I introduced the American Savings Promotion Act, legislation that would authorize the use of prize-linked savings accounts to encourage savings. Thursday, the House Financial Services Committee held a Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee hearing to review the Bank Account Seizure of Terrorist Assets Act (BASTA). The BASTA Act would seize assets of convicted terrorists. Finally, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen testified before the committee on monetary policy and the economy.

From the House Floor
Tuesday, the House approved highway funding legislation that will keep infrastructure projects funded through the peak summer construction season. In the longer term, we can't keep spending money we don't have on big-city transportation and infrastructure projects that don't benefit Arkansas taxpayers. The highway program is running out of money because liberal politicians waste too much on projects like streetcars in Charlotte, instead of the roads and bridges needed in places like Arkansas. I urge the Senate to pass the House-passed legislation immediately.

Protecting Our Troops
It's recently come to light that soldiers fighting on the front lines are receiving letters at home informing them that their service will no longer be needed when their deployment ends. This action is another shameful display of President Obama's disregard for our country's warfighters. This week, I urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to include an amendment in their mark-up of their Department of Defense Appropriations Bill that would stop these reductions in force. While no such amendment was included, I am hopeful one will be included when the bill is considered by the full Senate.

The Regulatory De-militarization Act
Did you know numerous federal regulatory agencies were granted law enforcement power in the 2002 Homeland Security Act? As a result, agencies like the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and even the Department of Education now have their own highly armed, SWAT-like police forces. The existence of highly armed units within such agencies is duplicative, costly, and can be hazardous to peaceful, law-abiding citizens. That is why I introduced the Regulatory De-militarization Act, legislation that will repeal federal regulatory agencies' arrest and firearm authority and prohibit them from purchasing weaponry regulated under the National Firearms Act, such as machine guns and grenades.

Arkansas Meetings
Wednesday, I met with Arkansas members of the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America. We discussed the uncertainty the EPA has created for gasoline programs and how Obamacare impacts their industry. I also met with Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach and Director of Policy Zac Bradley while they were in DC. We discussed several issues Arkansans are facing including the recent flooding in northeast Arkansas, listings under the Endangered Species Act, and the Water Resources Development Act. We also discussed the importance of the House-passed legislation to extend the highway projects in Arkansas.

Staff-led Veterans Assistance Session
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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