Welcome to "Arkies in the Beltway!" This is Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and I'm here with your Arkansas-centric look at national politics for the week of March 9, 2025!

Members of Arkansas' congressional delegation attended President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress last week. These Arkansans left the U.S. Capitol late last Tuesday expressing optimism about Trump's return to the White House and his leadership so far.

STORY: Arkansas' congressional delegation lauds Trump's address

The House of Representatives Financial Services Committee advanced legislation addressing a recent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule on overdraft fees.

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., introduced House Joint Resolution 59 in February. The measure would prevent the agency from implementing the change and issuing similar policies for the foreseeable future.

STORY: Hill’s proposal to invalidate limits on overdraft fees gets House panel’s OK

Meanwhile, members of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee began consideration of Rep. Bruce Westerman's bill addressing forest management and wildfires.

The House approved the Fix Our Forests Act in January. Westerman, a Hot Springs Republican, and California Democrat Scott Peters pushed the legislation through Congress' lower chamber.

STORY: U.S. Senate committee begins consideration of Westerman forest bill

Thanks for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of March 2, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have passed separate budget resolutions addressing President Donald Trump and Republicans' top policy goals. Now, they have to reach a compromise.

The House last week approved a blueprint with $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and sights on $2 trillion in spending cuts. All four of Arkansas' House members supported this plan.

House Democrats have voiced concerns about how the proposal could affect government services, including Medicaid and nutrition programs.

STORY: Arkansas’ U.S. House delegation backs 10-year budget blueprint to reduce spending, taxes

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is running for re-election.

Cotton, of Little Rock, launched his bid for another six-year term last Thursday.

The senator has emerged as a leading Republican figure on Capitol Hill; Cotton chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and serves on the Senate GOP leadership team.

STORY: Cotton officially kicks off reelection bid

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., is again pushing a bill to expand the Flatside Wilderness Area in Central Arkansas.

Hill's legislation would add more than 2,200 acres of the Ouachita National Forest to this protected space.

STORY: Hill trying for third time to expand Central Arkansas’ Flatside Wilderness Area

Thanks for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of February 23, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with a look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of the Senate and House of Representatives have budget resolutions on their minds.

The House returns to Capitol Hill on Monday in the wake of senators approving a $340 billion financial blueprint. The plan calls for a $150 billion boost to defense spending and a $175 billion increase for border security in conjunction with reduced spending across multiple areas.

Sens. John Boozman, of Rogers, and Tom Cotton, of Little Rock, joined 50 other Senate Republicans in supporting the budget resolution on Friday.

Speaking of Cotton, Arkansas' junior senator just released a new book.

"Seven Things You Can't Say About China" analyzes China's growing international prowess, as well as Cotton's concerns the nation could supersede the United States as the world's dominant political power.

STORY: New Cotton book expresses concerns with China 'close to parity' with U.S.

Thanks for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of February 16, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with a look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The Senate last week continued its consideration of President Donald Trump's picks for his administration.

Senators confirmed Brooke Rollins as agriculture secretary, Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services.

Sens. John Boozman, of Rogers, and Tom Cotton, of Little Rock, joined most of their Republican colleagues in supporting the nominations.

STORY: U.S. Senate confirms Rollins as agriculture secretary; Boozman hails her as 'advocate' for farmers

STORY: Boozman, Cotton support Gabbard as national intelligence director

Two members of Arkansas' congressional delegation are backing Trump's decision to implement tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Cotton and Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., were vocal in the last Congress in pushing for more action to protect American producers from foreign goods entering the United States.

Crawford, of Jonesboro, serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Steel Caucus.

STORY: Cotton, Crawford voice support for Trump action on steel, aluminum

An Arkansas electricity cooperative leader testified before House members on the federal permitting process.

Buddy Hasten, president and chief executive officer of Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, told lawmakers last Tuesday that current guidance hinders efforts to ensure Americans have access to sufficient energy services.

STORY: Arkansas electricity leader calls for reviewing federal regulations with projects

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., wants the Federal Reserve to take steps to confront inflation.

Hill, of Little Rock, addressed Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell during a House Financial Services Committee hearing last Wednesday on the matter.

Hill serves as the committee's chair.

STORY: Powell “not in a hurry” to make interest rate cuts, Hill wants more done on inflation

Thanks for listening to this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of February 9, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and I'm here to provide you with a look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Multiple Arkansans appeared before the Senate and House of Representatives in hopes of providing valuable insight and influencing public policy decisions.

Farmers Nathan Reed, of Marianna, and Jennifer James, of Newport, delivered testimony to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. Senators invited these producers and others to Capitol Hill to better understand the state of the agriculture economy.

On the other side of the U.S. Capitol, Arkansas banking leaders Cathy Owen and Sussanah Marshall discussed the challenges facing local community banking with the House Financial Services Committee.

STORY: Arkansas farmers push for new farm bill in U.S. Senate hearing

STORY: Hill’s first hearing as House committee chair brings attention to community banking

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., joined congressional colleagues and White House czar David Sacks last Tuesday to launch a bicameral working group focused on passing digital asset legislation.

Boozman, of Rogers, and Hill, of Little Rock, hope the body's work can lead to Congress creating a regulatory structure for cryptocurrencies and similar items.

STORY: Boozman, Hill help launch digital assets working group

If you have been following "Arkies in the Beltway" in recent months, then you know about Arkansas' newfound sway on Capitol Hill.

Five members of Arkansas' congressional delegation are serving as committee chairs in the 119th Congress. With these assignments, the Natural State has the more influence in the halls of Congress than it has had in the past five decades.

STORY: Arkansas’ lawmakers in Washington now hold five committee leadership posts

As President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress work on implementing their policy goals, Democrats are looking to move forward following last November's election results.

Democratic leaders — including top members of the Democratic Party of Arkansas — picked Ken Martin as the new chair of the Democratic National Committee at the committee's winter meeting outside of Washington, D.C.

Arkansas' top Democratic officials backed Martin, who most recently led the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

STORY: Arkansas Democrats look ahead following DNC leadership elections

Thanks for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of February 2, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

As members of the U.S. House of Representatives spent time away from the nation's capital, the Senate remained busy considering President Donald Trump's picks for his administration.

Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman representing Hawaii, appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee to discuss her nomination as director of national intelligence. Republican and Democratic senators pressed Gabbard on her past actions and comments, including a 2017 meeting with then-Syrian President Bashar Assad amid his country's civil war.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee. He sought answers from Gabbard regarding possible changes impacting bureaucracy within the intelligence community.

STORY: Tom Cotton hopes Tulsi Gabbard can be ally in confronting intelligence bureaucracy

Thanks for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of January 26, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Donald Trump's second presidency is underway, and the 47th president did not waste any time implementing parts of his agenda and campaign promises.

Hours after taking office, Trump signed multiple executive orders, including one action delaying a nationwide ban of the social media platform TikTok. Trump additionally issued pardons for people charged with crimes for the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

STORY: Arkansas leaders ecstatic, ready for second Trump presidency

STORY: Cotton, Crawford steadfast in wanting TikTok sale ending Chinese ties

STORY: Arkansas’ congressmen say they don’t condone Jan. 6 violence, but call to move forward after pardons

Several Arkansans traveled to Washington, D.C., to watch the inauguration ceremony. They, however, were not able to watch the inauguration from the U.S. Capitol's west side after Trump decided to move the event to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda because of cold temperatures.

STORY: Even with inauguration changes, Arkansans enjoy time in nation’s capital

Two of Arkansas' federal lawmakers marked career milestones when they presided over committees as chairs for the first time.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee welcomed Brooke Rollins as senators consider her nomination to serve as the next agriculture secretary.

On the other side of the U.S. Capitol, Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., and the House Financial Services Committee discussed the committee's goals for the 119th Congress.

STORY: Agriculture secretary nominee faces U.S. Senate panel as Boozman chairs first hearing

STORY: Hill chairs House committee for first time, organizes Financial Services panel

The House sent a forest management measure to the Senate for that chamber's consideration.

Reps. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., and Scott Peters, D-Calif., originally introduced the Fix Our Forests Act during the last Congress in hopes of expediting the environment review process for maintenance projects and promoting better forest resiliency.

STORY: U.S. House passes bipartisan Westerman bill on forest management

Thanks for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" Stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of January 19, 2025!

I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions. Regarding those Arkansans of interests, the Natural State's congressional delegation is in quite the position to administer some influence throughout this Congress.

Five Arkansans are now serving in committee chair roles after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., elevated Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., on Thursday to the top position on the House Intelligence Committee.

Crawford, of Jonesboro, and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., are Congress' top members on intelligence-related issues. Cotton, of Little Rock, leads the Senate Intelligence Committee.

STORY: Crawford named chairman of the House Intelligence Committee

The Senate has started considering President-elect Donald Trump's choices for top administrative positions.

Cotton and Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., participated in hearings where presumptive nominees explained their goals for the new presidential administration, as well as addressed senators' questions about their positions and records.

STORY: Cotton allows Hegseth to explain stance on women in combat

STORY: Cotton chairs first Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, presses CIA director nominee on agency’s mission

STORY: Boozman calls on Trump’s EPA pick to work with USDA, consider farmers and ranchers

The House of Representatives Rules Committee will consider a bipartisan proposal from Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., on Tuesday, the Fix Our Forests Act.

Westerman, of Hot Springs, starts this year optimistic about this Congress and his second term leading the House Natural Resources Committee.

STORY: Westerman hopes to ride legislative momentum in ongoing House committee leadership

Thanks for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!"

Stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!