Welcome to "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Dec. 22, 2024! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

It was a mad dash on Capitol Hill to complete legislative work before the holidays.

The Senate and House of Representatives addressed the final priorities of the year, including a stopgap funding package preventing a government shutdown.

Part of that legislation includes $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers as the agriculture industry continues dealing with high input costs and declining net farm incomes.

STORY: Bill signed into law Saturday sets aside $10B in economic assistance for farmers

Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., watched the Senate pass two of his measures, sending the bills to the White House for President Joe Biden's signature.

The Senate approved a bipartisan outdoor recreation package and legislation dedicating the Kingsland post office after country music icon Johnny Cash.

Westerman, of Hot Springs, served as lead sponsor of both measures.

STORY: U.S. Senate approves Westerman-led outdoor recreation measure

STORY: Bill to rename Kingsland post office for Johnny Cash advances to president's desk

Thank you for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" The program is taking a break for the holidays, but it will return in 2025 with new episodes covering the decisions and decision-makers impacting Arkansas.

You can stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can get in touch with me on social media; I'm now posting on Bluesky.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Dec. 15, 2024! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., is preparing to lead an important House of Representatives committee.

The House Republican Steering Committee has recommended Hill, of Little Rock, as the next chair of the House Financial Resources Committee. A former banker, Hill has served as the committee's vice chair in the current Congress.

STORY: Hill getting ready to wield gavel for House Financial Services Committee

Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., ended his bid to lead the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Crawford, of Jonesboro, launched his run for the seat in March as the committee's current chair, Missouri Republican Sam Graves, sought a waiver to bypass a House GOP rule limiting time as a committee's top Republican member.

The steering panel granted such a waiver to Graves, allowing him to pursue another two-year term holding the gavel.

STORY: Crawford bows out of House committee chair race

Arkansans are among those monitoring Syria following the collapse of Bashar Assad's regime.

The Syrian Emergency Task Force — which has an office in Little Rock — is a nonprofit organization vocal about ending the civil war and assisting Syrians impacted by the conflict.

STORY: Arkansans eager over Syria’s future following Assad’s fall

Thank you for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can get in touch with me on social media; I'm now posting on Bluesky.

"Arkies in the Beltway" is back with a new episode for the week of Dec. 8, 2024! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansas leading the discussions.

Congress is sprinting to complete its work before the holidays.

The Senate and House of Representatives have a full agenda of things to accomplish before Dec. 20, including action for farm bill programs addressing nutrition, rural development and agriculture.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined 16 other Republican governors in a letter last Monday calling on Congress to reauthorize these programs.

STORY: Sanders among GOP governors calling for farm bill action

The House Intelligence Committee has released a report stating it is "increasingly likely" that a foreign adversary is responsible for anomalous health incidents involving American diplomats and their families.

Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., is leading the committee's investigative efforts on these matters.

STORY: Crawford-led report: Foreign adversary “very likely” responsible for health incidents among diplomats

Another Arkansan is set to become an ambassador in the incoming presidential administration.

President-elect Donald Trump has named investment banker Warren Stephens as the next ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Stephens currently serves as president and CEO of Stephens Inc., a privately held investment firm based in Little Rock.

Trump in November named former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as the next ambassador to Israel.

STORY: Trump names Warren Stephens as next U.K. ambassador

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media, including on Bluesky.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Nov. 24, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of Congress are away from Capitol Hill this week for Thanksgiving.

When they return to Washington, it will be a three-week sprint to complete work for the 118th Congress.

Top items of concern include avoiding a government shutdown on Dec. 20 and the White House's $98.4 billion request addressing natural disaster recovery efforts.

STORY: Womack: Congress must take disaster relief proposal seriously

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., anticipates Congress will approve a short-term extension of the farm bill in December as Republicans and Democrats continue to struggle with finalizing a bipartisan proposal.

Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow — the chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee — has released the legislative text of Senate Democrats' farm bill proposal. There is, however, limited time on the congressional calendar to move this measure through the Senate and House of Representatives.

Boozman, of Rogers, is the Senate Agriculture Committee's top GOP member. He will become the committee's chair in January when Republicans take control of the Senate.

STORY: Boozman expects farm bill extension amid legislative crunch

Thank you for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media, including Bluesky.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Nov. 17, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of Congress have returned to Capitol Hill, and they are not wasting time preparing for next year's Republican trifecta.

Senate Republicans elected Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., as their conference chair. Cotton, of Little Rock, defeated Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst in a secret ballot for the No. 3 seat in the Senate GOP.

STORY: Tom Cotton named No. 3 Republican in U.S. Senate

President-elect Donald Trump continues to assemble his administration.

Trump has made multiple picks for positions, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as the next ambassador to Israel.

Huckabee, who served as the Natural State's governor for more than a decade, has been a vocal Trump supporter. He endorsed Trump's 2016 presidential campaign after ending his own White House bid.

STORY: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tapped as U.S. ambassador to Israel by Trump

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., has published a list of principles for rules affecting community banks.

Hill, of Little Rock, released his goals for the next Congress amid his pursuit of the House Financial Services Committee chair job.

STORY: Hill proposes community banking ideas as he pursues financial committee chairmanship

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across most platforms is @AlexHouseThomas. You can also find me on Bluesky.

Welcome to "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Nov. 10, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing these discussions.

Arkansas' members of the U.S. House of Representatives had a successful Election Day.

All four incumbents — Republican Reps. Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman — will return to Capitol Hill to continue their congressional careers.

In addition, Crawford, Hill and Westerman could begin the next Congress in January as committee chairs.

STORY: Arkansas' four U.S. House incumbents reelected

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., plans to stay in the Senate.

Cotton, of Little Rock, opted against joining Donald Trump's second administration to continue serving as senator. The move comes as Cotton eyes a spot on the Senate Republican leadership team.

STORY: As Trump forms second Cabinet, Cotton ‘very happy’ in U.S. Senate

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Nov. 3, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing these discussions.

Election Day is Tuesday, and Arkansas' federal lawmakers have multiple reasons to keep their eyes on the results.

There are, of course, the races in Arkansas' four House of Representatives districts, but there are also eyes on the Senate and House contests happening outside of the Natural State.

If Republicans flip the Senate and hold onto the House, this possible GOP control of Capitol Hill could provide Arkansas' two senators and four House members with tremendous influence on public policy through committee and party leadership roles.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette.

Congress does have work to do in the final weeks of this year.

A bipartisan group of House members is pushing legislation to provide emergency financial assistance payments to farmers in financial straits.

Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark, is cosponsoring the Farmer Assistance Revenue Mitigation Act, which comes as the Senate and House struggle to reach final terms of a new farm bill.

STORY: Crawford joins congressional coalition urging agriculture relief

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Oct. 27, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing these conversations.

We conclude our series covering Arkansas' four congressional races by looking at the 4th Congressional District contest. U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., has served on Capitol Hill since January 2015. Democrat Risie Howard of Pine Bluff is challenging the Hot Springs incumbent for the seat.

STORY: Westerman, Howard face off in 4th Congressional District contest

Thank you for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.