Newsletter: Weekly Wrap-Up: July 21, 2014 - August 1, 2014

Statement

House Foreign Affairs Committee
Last week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee met to review the deteriorating security situation in Iraq. Specifically, we examined the threat posed by ISIS and Iranian involvement in the situation, as well as the U.S. response. Click here to learn more about this hearing. The committee also held a mark-up of two bills pertaining to the conflict in Israel. Click here to learn more about this markup.

Tuesday, I attended a subcommittee hearing on Malaysian Flight 17 and the escalating crisis in Ukraine. As you may know, on July 17, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down by a surface to air missile killing all 298 people on board. Click here for more about this hearing. I also attended a full committee hearing on the Iran nuclear negotiations, which continued the committee's oversight of the Administration's decision to extend nuclear negotiations with Iran for an additional four months--including the prospects for and implications of a final agreement. Click here to learn more about this hearing. Wednesday, the committee held a mark-up on several pieces of legislation supporting Israel, human rights, and religious freedom. Click here to learn more about this markup.

House Financial Services Committee
Last week, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing to assess the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act four years after it was enacted into law. Specifically, the committee examined how Dodd-Frank's regulatory burdens are hurting our hometown small banks and credit unions. Local financial institutions are struggling as big banks have only gotten bigger and bureaucrats in Washington have become more powerful. As a result, Arkansans are finding it harder to get a loan or to have a relationship with their local banker as branches disappear. As we've seen with Obamacare, the Dodd-Frank Act is another 1,000-page, one-size-fits-all Washington solution that ended up hurting taxpayers and costing Arkansas jobs. Click here to learn more about this hearing.

This week, the committee considered legislation to rein in the excessively loose monetary policy of the Federal Reserve. Since late 2008 the Fed has been experimenting with monetary policy and interest rates under the guise of trying to lower the unemployment rate. Although the economy has started to recover, the effects of the Fed's policies have resulted in no return on savings accounts that many seniors depend on and rising prices of everyday items such as food and gasoline. These trends cannot continue. The bill recently passed by the Financial Services Committee would direct the Federal Reserve to follow a clear monetary policy rule--not improvisation--in setting policy to better focus on price stability and transparency. Click here to learn more.

Meriam Ibrahim's Departure From Sudan
Last week, Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman imprisoned for her marriage to a non-Muslim and her refusal to denounce Christianity was finally permitted to leave Sudan. Last month, I introduced a bill that would have given Meriam permanent legal status in the United States. The day before her release, I participated in a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing to further examine her case. I also had the opportunity to discuss Miriam's situation and religious freedom more broadly on the Family Research Council Washington Watch Radio Show. It is a travesty that Meriam was imprisoned in the first place, but even more troubling that her situation is part of a growing pattern of persecution of Christians around the world that must be stopped. As a country founded by religious refugees, and for whom religious freedom is our very first freedom, the United States must always stand for religious liberty. Meriam's struggle is a reminder of that duty and honor.

Christians United for Israel
Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with several Arkansas members of Christians United for Israel in my DC office. We discussed the ongoing challenges in Israel, Iran's nuclear program, and the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act of 2014, which passed the House later that evening.

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014
The problems at the VA are unconscionable. That's why this week the House passed the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, legislation that implements a number of needed reforms to the VA. I was pleased the Senate followed suit and also passed this legislation and look forward to the President signing it into law. This bill is an important first step toward reforming the VA, but it cannot be our only step. We must remain vigilant and work to ensure this agency is worthy of the sacrifice and dedication of our veterans. Rest assured, I will continue to fight to protect our veterans. Click here to read my full statement.

The Student and Family Tax Simplification Act
Last week, I joined 226 of my colleagues in supporting the Student and Family Tax Simplification Act--legislation that simplifies current education tax benefits to ease the cost burden of a college education. This bill consolidates four current tax benefits for higher education into a reformed American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), a simplified and expanded credit. Click here to learn more about this important bill.

Honoring the Life of Mark Williams
Wednesday, I spoke on the House Floor in memory of Mark Williams, a longtime police officer and Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy instructor. Click here to watch the video and read the full text of my remarks.

Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act
Instead of protecting species that are truly at risk, the Obama administration has abused the Endangered Species Act to launch a regulatory assault on Arkansas landowners and sportsmen. That's why this week the House passed the Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act, legislation that rightly reforms an outdated species-listing process, providing transparency and input from Arkansans during the Endangered Species List classification process. Click here to read my full statement.

Staff-led Veterans Assistance Session
Members of my staff will be holding Veterans Assistance Sessions in Hope, Arkadelphia, and Hot Springs on August 12, 2014 to provide information and answer any VA related questions. Please visit my website for more details.

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