Dr. Boozman's Check-up
Week in Review: February 23-27
Feb 27 2015
President Obama’s misguided veto, meeting with Arkansas veterans and improving transparency in EPA rulemaking. Read about these and more in the “Week in Review.”
- Withholding funds for President Obama’s Executive Amnesty: After Senate Democrats filibustered four separate attempts to begin debate on the House bill that withheld funds for the President’s executive order, the Majority Leader brought forward a bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security without any conditions on Obama’s executive actions. The bill passed the Senate, but I voted against it.
- President Vetoes Keystone bill: This project has been studied for more than six years and has been given the green light at every obstacle. Arkansans and all Americans can see that President Obama is the real hurdle to Keystone. I will continue to support this project, and I urge the Senate to quickly vote to override this veto.
- Disaster Recovery Grant for Pulaski and Faulkner Counties: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) provided $96,000 to the counties to help with disaster recovery efforts form the 2014 EF4 tornado. The money will be used to remove debris from streams in order to prevent future flooding.
- Arkansas Veterans Visit: Veterans Service Organizations shared their priorities with Congress and the needs of their members. I met with Arkansas members of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and the Disabled American Veterans as national commanders testified before the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees.
- GI Bill Fairness Act: I joined Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) to introduce this legislation that would ensure wounded Guardsmen and Reservists receive the GI Bill benefits they’ve earned.
- Celebrating 90 years of VFW Post 1322: Congratulations to Van Buren’s VFW Post 1322, the oldest VFW post in Arkansas, on its 90th anniversary. I honored the post in the Congressional Record.
- EPA Transparency: We’re working to improve confidence in the fairness and transparency of EPA regulations and rulemaking by reforming the science advisory process. Learn more about the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act.
- Updating FAA’s Pilot General Aviation Regulations: Congress is working to reform FAA’s general aviation medical standards to maintain safety while supporting capable pilots and sustaining economic growth in the industry. Read about the legislation I introduced to accomplish this.
Calling it a development “that may be something everyone can support”, the Southwest Times-Record editors offered up their support for the APPROVAL Act, legislation I introduced with Senator Cotton to restore the right of states to approve or disapprove of electric transmission projects before the federal government exercises its power to take private property.
Read the full editorial:
Whatever Decision Is Made, Let’s Make It In Arkansas [Southwest Times-Record, 02/15/15]
KFFB Open Mic
Feb 18 2015
I joined KFFB’s Bob Connell to talk about some of the topics under discussion in Washington that I’m hearing about from Arkansans. If you missed the two segments that aired earlier this week you can listen to the interview here. Listen in as we discuss the Keystone pipeline, how my office helps Arkansans and improvements to veterans mental health services.
Week in Review: February 9-13
Feb 13 2015
Two new bills I introduced, The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act becomes law, my speech on the President’s flawed national and homeland security strategies and more in this “Week in Review.”
- Preventing Veteran Suicides: Read my Roll Call opinion piece on the importance of the Clay Hunt SAV Act, which the President signed into law this week, and what next steps we should take to prevent suicides among veterans in this morning's edition of Roll Call.
- The Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP) Clarification and Reauthorization Bill: For my first bill of the new session, I joined with Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), in an effort to fight veteran homelessness by reauthorizing current programs and clarifying qualifications for existing housing assistance benefits.
- The APPROVAL Act: I joined with Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) to introduce legislation to restore the right of states to approve or disapprove of electric transmission projects before the federal government exercises its power to take private property.
- The Problems with the President's National and Homeland Security Strategies: I delivered a speech on the Senator floor on Thursday to raise concerns about the President's national and homeland security strategies, particularly whether the Administration is committed to taking action on radical Islamic terrorists like ISIS and the President's instance on requiring Congress to fund his unconstitutional executive order on immigration.
- #SERVINGAR: My office has assisted thousands of people with a wide range of matters involving the federal government, including the IRS, Social Security, Medicare, VA, international adoption, visas and many other issues. Learn how we can help you.
- UAPB Receives Grant: I joined U.S. Senator Tom Cotton and U.S. Representative Bruce Westerman (AR-4) to announce that the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) received a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to study foodborne pathogens in order to make our food healthier and prevent foodborne illnesses.
- KASU Radio Show: I joined Jonesboro’s KASU radio to discuss some of the issues we’re working on in Washington. We covered a wide range of topics including fighting in Ukraine and the President Obama’s request to Congress to formally authorize war against Islamic State militants, improvements to veterans mental health services and constituent service.
- Connecting with Arkansans: I joined 5News to talk about how my office uses social media to reach Arkansans. Watch the interview that aired on Sunday, February 8, 2015.
What I'm Sponsoring & Co-Sponsoring This Week
Feb 13 2015
The Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP) Clarification and Reauthorization Bill: For my first bill of the new session, I joined with Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), in an effort to fight veteran homelessness by reauthorizing current programs and clarifying qualifications for existing housing assistance benefits.
The APPROVAL Act: I joined with Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) to introduce legislation to restore the right of states to approve or disapprove of electric transmission projects before the federal government exercises its power to take private property.
Along with the legislation I introduced this week, I’ve lent my support to a handful of important bills that other Senators introduced this week including:
Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015. This bill would allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state that also has concealed carry laws, while abiding by that state’s concealed carry laws.
A Resolution Welcoming Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Visit: I signed on to Senator Cornyn’s resolution welcoming Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States for his address to a joint session of Congress next month.
A bill to Arm Ukraine: Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) introduced a bill that would authorize the President to arm Ukraine with lethal military aid. S.452 is currently the only bill in Congress that specifically authorizes the United States to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, which would remove any ambiguity as to whether the U.S. should supply its ally with offensive or defensive military aid. This is the only bill to also require the President to deliver to Congress a comprehensive strategy for our nation’s support of Ukraine.
Stay on top of all the bills I am cosponsoring in the 114th Congress by bookmarking this page where I will keep a running list.
I took to the Senate floor this morning to raise concerns about the President's national and homeland security strategies, particularly whether the Administration is committed to taking action on radical Islamic terrorists like ISIS and the President's instance on requiring Congress to fund his unconstitutional executive order on immigration.
Highlights:
"Given the severity of the threat posed by ISIS, not to mention the continuing efforts of al-Qaeda to strike again, you would think a plan to take on radical Islam would be a focal part of the President’s national security plan. It’s not. In fact, there is no mention of radical Islam in the document at all."
"They're holding up the entire bill, threatening to shut down DHS to protect the President's priorities. Not because the funding is too low, not because programs need reforms. Their complaint is that the President isn't getting what he wants. I encourage them to relent on their filibuster so we can debate the bill, make changes if the chamber sees fit and send it to the President. If the President truly wants immigration reform, then do it the right way and work with Congress to get it done. Don't go about it on your own unconstitutionally and then threaten to shut down a department charged with protecting Americans. It's out of touch but it's not the first time this Administration's priorities have been at odds with those of the American people."
"Preventing ISIS from achieving its goal takes a clear, forceful security strategy both abroad and at home. What the President has put forward is neither."
Watch my speech in its entirety below.
KASU Interview February 10, 2015
Feb 11 2015
This morning I joined Jonesboro’s KASU radio to discuss some of the issues we’re working on in Washington. We covered a wide range of topics including fighting in Ukraine and the President Obama’s request to Congress to formally authorize war against Islamic State militants, improvements to veterans mental health services and constituent service. If you missed it you can listen to the interview here.
Connecting With Arkansans
Feb 09 2015
Connecting with Arkansans is an important part of my responsibilities as senator. I regularly host Facebook Q&As to talk with people in the state when I'm working in Washington. You can also find me on twitter and instagram to see what I'm doing on behalf of Arkansas. I joined 5News to talk about how my office uses social media to reach Arkansans. Watch the interview that aired on Sunday, February 8, 2015.
What I'm Co-Sponsoring This Week: Repealing Obamacare Act, Balanced Budget Amendment & More
Feb 06 2015
I’ve lent my support to a number of important bills that were introduced this week.
The Repeal Obamacare Act: Repealing Obamacare is at the top of the list of actions Arkansans want this Congress to take. This bill, introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), fully repeals Obamacare effective 180 days after its enactment, and provides Congress and the states the intervening six months to develop and vote on patient-oriented replacements that will fix the damage Obamacare has done to our health care system and economy.
Balanced Budget Amendment: On the heels of the release of President Obama’s misguided budget proposal, Senate Republicans have joined together to support Senator Orrin Hatch’s (R-UT) Balanced Budget Amendment. I have supported this effort in the past and have signed on to cosponsor once again because if Arkansas can balance its budget, so can Washington.
Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act: Like the Balanced Budget Amendment, this is another effort to rein in spending so that we can make Washington more efficient, effective and accountable to the American people. I’ve joined with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to help introduce this commonsense bill that will promote spending reform by preventing Congress from raising the debt limit unless that legislation also cuts commensurate spending over the next decade.
Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015: This bill, introduced by Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), would impose new sanctions on Iran if international negotiators fail to reach a deal by June 30 on Tehran's nuclear program.
Keep Our Communities Safe Act: Authored by Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), this bill would close the legal loophole that requires immigration authorities to release back into the United States any immigrant that has not been accepted for deportation to other countries after being detained for six months. This practice is commonly referred to as “catch and release.”
The TALENT Act: This legislation makes certain the needs of high ability students are included in federal education policy. Instead of creating a new one-size-fits-all mandate to address the problem, we propose empowering teachers with options that will help them recognize and respond to the needs of high ability students.
The Work Colleges Relief Act: I joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce this bill to clarify and make permanent a tax exemption for Work College scholarships that would help schools and their students avoid unnecessary legal and accounting costs.
Stay on top of all the bills I am cosponsoring in the 114th Congress by bookmarking this page where I will keep a running list.
