This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Sept. 29, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at the Arkansans influencing the national political discussions.

The "Man in Black" is now in bronze.

Arkansans joined congressional leaders, Arkansas lawmakers and members of Johnny Cash's family on Capitol Hill last Tuesday for a ceremony unveiling a statue of the Arkansas native on Capitol Hill.

Cash is the first musician to be recognized with a sculpture in the National Statuary Hall collection.

The ceremony completes a multi-year effort to install new statues of Arkansans at the U.S. Capitol; officials unveiled a sculpture honoring civil rights leader Daisy Bates in May.

STORY: Musician, Arkansas legend Johnny Cash recognized with U.S. Capitol statue

The Senate and House of Representatives have started their October recess.

Members of both chambers left Capitol Hill last week after passing a continuing resolution funding the federal government through Dec. 20.

When lawmakers return to Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12, they will have five weeks of legislative business to complete any lingering work before the new Congress begins its first legislative session in January.

STORY: Arkansas’ federal lawmakers weigh in on temporary government funding, preview post-election budget fight

Thank you for listening to this week's "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 Sept. 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.

The main focus on Capitol Hill this week — at least, when it comes to legislative business — will be lawmakers' ability to prevent a government shutdown at month's end.

The House of Representatives rejected a proposal last week to maintain funding until late March. House Republicans coupled that language with legislation requiring citizens to present some form of identification to register to vote in federal elections.

All four of Arkansas' House members supported the measure.

STORY: Arkansas’ U.S. House members back failed spending plan

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., wants colleagues to take action to protect agriculture producers.

As Congress remains unable to pass a new farm bill, Boozman, of Rogers, says farmers need access to financial assistance amid increasing input costs, high interest rates and market prices not keeping up with expenses.

STORY: Boozman urges action on farm bill, farmer assistance with rising financial pressure

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders generated controversy last week over remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris.

A Sanders spokesperson said Sanders' comments during a town hall with former President Donald Trump — during which Sanders said Harris "doesn't have anything keeping her humble" — were not an attack on the vice president for not having biological children.

STORY: Sanders camp says Harris jab was a reference to policies

Arkansans are excited for Tuesday's ceremony on Capitol Hill unveiling a statue of Johnny Cash.

The bronze Cash statue is the second statue of an Arkansan to be installed on Capitol Hill this year; a similar sculpture of civil rights leader Daisy Bates was unveiled to the public in May.

STORY: Check Sunday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette for the full story.

Thank you for listening to this week's "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 Sept. 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.

We are nearly seven weeks away from Election Day, and campaigning is in full swing, both nationally and in Arkansas.

Democratic congressional candidate Marcus Jones is criticizing U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., for using images of military awards on a campaign mailer to voters in Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District.

The flier — highlighting Hill's work addressing veterans issues — notes how the congressman's office has helped recover lost military medals for service members and their families. The mailer includes images of the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Medal of Honor, which are awarded to military members in recognition of their actions.

Jones, a retired Army colonel, called the mailer "particularly insulting to those veterans who received those gallantry awards or were wounded or killed in combat to receive a Purple Heart."

STORY: Democrat Jones accuses Hill’s campaign of ‘borrowed valor’ for mailer that showed medals

Congress does not have a clear pathway for avoiding a government shutdown at month's end.

The House of Representatives was supposed to vote last Wednesday on a six-month continuing resolution with attached language addressing voting in federal elections, but Republican leadership pulled the measure hours before the scheduled vote.

The Senate and House must approve a spending plan by Sept. 30 to continue funding government operations into the new fiscal year.

STORY: Arkansas’ U.S. House members ponder funding options as Sept. 30 deadline approaches

Members of the House Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee highlighted the importance of the United States' relationships with three Pacific island nations during a recent oversight hearing.

Congress and President Joe Biden approved furthering the United States' partnerships with these nations — including the Marshall Islands — back in March.

STORY: U.S. House subcommittee hearing emphasizes agreements with Marshall Islands, other Pacific island nations

Thank you for listening to this week's "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 Sept. 8, 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 the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives return to Capitol Hill on Monday, bringing an end to their month-long August recess period.

Lawmakers will arrive in Washington, D.C., aware Congress must pass an appropriations plan and address the current farm bill before month's end.

As it concerns appropriations, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., secured language in one of the Senate appropriations measures calling on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to hold listening sessions on a proposed rule affecting emergency personnel.

OSHA projects the proposal will cost public volunteer fire departments across the country more than $14,000 annually if the rule goes into place.

STORY: Boozman meets with firefighters in Sebastian County about proposed OSHA rule

Meanwhile, the trucking industry is watching how the House considers its remaining seven appropriations measures, specifically one bill's provision supporting $200 million in truck parking projects.

The language is a response to a nationwide issue of truck drivers not having available parking when they are done driving for the day.

STORY: Womack-led appropriations measure puts aside millions for truck parking

Thank you for listening to this week's "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 Sept. 1, 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. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., have introduced bipartisan legislation supporting research on smartphone use in schools. The Focus on Learning Act calls on the federal Department of Education to study how these devices impact academic achievement and students' mental health.

The two measures come amid interest nationwide and in the Natural State to restrict smartphone access among students. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and state Education Secretary Jacob Oliva are pushing a pilot program to provide school districts with pouches so students may store their phones during the school day.

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

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., spent part of last week in Texas. Part of his trip involved the next farm bill and necessary language concerning agriculture production.

Boozman, of Rogers, and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, participated in an agriculture roundtable, during which the senators emphasized the importance of putting "more farm" in the next legislative package. The current farm bill is set to expire in September.

STORY: Boozman stresses farm protections in Texas agriculture roundtable

Thank you for listening to this week's "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 August 25, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at the Arkansans influencing our national political discussions.

As Democrats from across the country converged in Chicago last week for the Democratic National Convention, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette spent time following the Arkansas delegation in the Windy City as they joined other Democrats to formally nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as the party's presidential nominee.

On this week's "Arkies in the Beltway," we take a look at the energy surrounding Harris' presidential campaign, as well as the Arkansans looking to build the Democratic Party's statewide and nationwide outreach.

STORY: Former Secretary Clinton addresses Democratic National Committee as convention gets underway

STORY: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders calls on Democrats to do more in Arkansas, other Republican-led states

STORY: Arkansas Democrats’ 2022 gubernatorial nominee pushing party to reach out to rural America

STORY: Bill Clinton calls Harris ‘president of joy,’ says Trump ‘creates chaos’

STORY: Arkansas Democrats eager to return to state energized from national convention

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 also 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 August 18, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Democrats from across the country are converging in Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention.

The event completes a month of changes to the Democratic Party's presidential ticket, with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the torch from President Joe Biden and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joining the Harris campaign as the party's vice presidential nominee.

Arkansas Democrats are arriving in Chicago enthusiastic about Harris, believing she will put forward a campaign capable of defeating former President Donald Trump in November.

Check Sunday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette for the full story.

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 also 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 August 11, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Arkansas Democrats are ecstatic about Vice President Kamala Harris' choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

Harris named Walz to the Democratic presidential ticket last Tuesday, with the vice president and Democrats across the country now working to build momentum ahead of this fall's election.

Walz, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, is currently in the middle of his second term as governor.

STORY: Arkansas Democrats ecstatic about Harris’ running mate pick; Republicans criticize Walz' record

U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., is helping lead a bipartisan effort addressing the current system used by Medicare for reimbursing doctors.

Boozman and Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., introduced the Physician Fee Stabilization Act before the Senate began its August recess. The legislation would update the current fee schedule and prevent future reductions in payments to physicians.

STORY: Boozman helping lead charge addressing Medicare payments

Members of Arkansas' congressional delegation are hopeful about securing millions of dollars for projects in Arkansas.

The lawmakers submitted funding requests to the Senate and House of Representatives Appropriations Committees to support projects across the Natural State ranging from interstate construction to work at the former Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs.

Check Monday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette for the full story

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 also track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.