U.S. Senate Republicans announced their committee assignments for the 114^th Congress. I'm excited to once again be serving on the Agriculture Committee; Appropriations Committee; Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW); and Veterans Affairs Committee. I will also sit on the Rules Committee for this coming session of Congress. I am eager to begin working toward a more efficient and effective government when we take control of the Senate in January. 

Mark Smith and I discussed a number of topics, inlcuding the lame duck agenda and the President's immigration executive overreach, during this month's visit with KASU's morning program. If you missed it, you can listen to the full interview here.

If you visited the President’s website, you might think that Washington’s spending problem is under control.

Lines that suggest President Obama has “led the way on structuring the government to live within its means” and “the Administration has moved to eliminate wasteful spending, streamline what works, and modernize how government operates to save money and improve performance” would give you the impression that everything is rosy and going according to plan.

So, how then, does the White House reconcile that rhetoric with the fact that our national debt has now passed the $18 trillion mark? It appears by ignoring this alarming trend all together, and not commenting on it despite once saying it was “unpatriotic” to add $4 trillion to the debt.

Come January, Republicans will control both chambers of Congress, allowing us to put our commitment to cut Washington’s wasteful spending into action. I believe we can find a mechanism, like a Balanced Budget Amendment, that will stop the government from spending beyond its means. If Arkansas can be required to balance our state’s budget, there is no reason that we shouldn’t be able to require Washington to do the same.

The national debt is a threat to our sovereignty. Foreign holdings account for almost half of these obligations, and much of that is owed to countries that do not always share our values—such as China and Saudi Arabia. We must end the excessive spending and put our nation back on a fiscally responsible path. The road we are on right now certainly isn’t fair to future generations. We can’t keep kicking the can down the road. In fact, it has been kicked so far down the road it is out of view.

As we prepare our grocery lists for Thanksgiving we are reminded of the things for which we are thankful. This year I am grateful for a Razorback SEC football win, my health and my family. However, there are many children who don’t have the opportunity to be thankful for a family. These are our nation’s children in foster care. 

In Arkansas there are more than 3,000 children in our foster care system. Many of these children and youth are waiting for adoption and dreaming to be part of a loving family. 

To raise awareness, I cosponsored the Senate- passed resolution recognizing November as National Adoption Month and Saturday, November 22^nd as National Adoption Day.  This campaign strives to share the many positive adoption stories, clear up the misconceptions of adoption and to bring attention to the children who are awaiting permanent families. I am proud to support the bipartisan resolution in hopes of encouraging families in Arkansas, and across the country, to open their hearts and homes and give the blessing of a bright future. 

Arkansas has excellent adoption advocacy groups and forever families. Due to their dedication to children, over the past several years these crusaders have been distinguished for their efforts by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, which coordinates the Angels in Adoption program. We are blessed to have so many Arkansans willing to share their love and their homes. 

Every child deserves the love and support of a family. We must work diligently to make that a reality. Families across Arkansas are committed to sharing their love with children who need parents. As a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I’m committed to creating an environment that encourages adoption and ensure that parents receive guidance, support, and an efficient and secure adoption process.