Surpassing the 100-day mark of the 119th Congress offers an opportunity to take stock of some of the steps Senate Republicans have taken to accomplish the goals Arkansans and Americans more broadly asked of us to help get our nation back on track.  

For starters, it is important to remember that the Senate is in the personnel business. Since this Congress coincides with the start of a new presidential administration, that aspect of our unique constitutional role becomes paramount. 

And we have been busy confirming President Trump’s appointees. In fact, we have considered and approved nominees at a faster rate than in the Obama, Biden and first Trump administrations. Our commitment to helping ensure the president has his team in place was resolute and helped provide leadership and accountability at federal departments and agencies. This includes personnel like Brooke Rollins, who was confirmed as Secretary of Agriculture with my full support as Chairman of the Senate Ag Committee. 

During the Biden administration, millions of illegal immigrants and narcotics flooded across our border. Congress has worked closely with the new White House on reversing that chaos, including passing the Laken Riley Act and Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act. Both bills empower law enforcement with more effective tools to protect American citizens. The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of illegal immigrants who commit theft and violent crimes until they are removed from the United States, while the HALT Fentanyl Act closes loopholes that allowed traffickers to smuggle dangerous drugs into our country.

It is critical that Congress and the administration continue building on this important progress to keep our communities safe and restore law and order. 

Leading the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry this Congress is a privilege and we have hit the ground running, holding nine hearings on a range of topics including the farm bill, other legislative initiatives and nominations. My priority has been to elevate the voices of producers as we craft this vital five-year contract with farmers, ranchers and rural communities because we need their perspectives to underscore the need not just to get something done, but the right thing – and urgently. 

Unleashing American energy and rolling back costly Biden-era policies have also been a focus for the Senate.

So far, we have approved measures eliminating roadblocks for offshore oil and gas production, prohibiting implementation of a natural gas tax set in motion by the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, and repealing onerous “energy efficiency” regulations that threatened affordability for consumers and small businesses.

Finally, Senate Republicans have also reversed the previous administration’s rules targeting digital currencies. Already this Congress, the leaders of the committees of jurisdiction – which include the Senate and House Ag Committees as well as the Senate Banking and House Financial Services panels – and senior White House officials have come together to reaffirm our partnership toward instituting a regulatory framework for the industry that protects consumers and allows U.S. businesses to thrive. Pursuing these goals through a transparent process will be essential in establishing the rules of the road for a novel and innovative market like crypto.

The first 100 days of the 119th Congress have moved quickly and there is a lot of progress to show for it. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Trump administration to bring more of our agenda to fruition, including policies that will benefit Arkansas’s economy, public safety and opportunities for many years to come.