We’re bringing our office to you, the President submits his budget to Congress, the Senate confirms a new federal judge for Arkansas and much more in this edition of the “Week in Review.” 

• Mobile Offices: We’re making it easier to reach our office by bringing it to you. We hosted two Mobile Office events this week and there are many other opportunities to meet with my staff. Find out where we’ll be during March. 

• Budget: President Obama submitted his fiscal year 2015 budget to Congress. Unfortunately, it’s more of the same. This reckless plan would increase total spending by 63 percent from today’s levels and add $8.3 trillion to the debt over the next 10 years. 

• Crisis in Ukraine: Thursday was the five-year anniversary of the Obama administration’s declaration of a “reset” with Russia. Unfortunately, that fresh start doesn’t look very good today. I joined a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce a resolution that condemns the Russian military siege of Crimea, calling for a withdrawal of those troops, and a negotiated settlement to any concerns regarding the Crimea. It also urges the administration and European Union to use a range of economic and diplomatic leverage against Russia should it fail to abide by these basic international norms. Watch this for more on my thoughts on the Ukraine crisis. 

• Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearings: We were pleased to welcome Arkansas veterans who were in Washington representing Veterans Service Organizations (VSO). These leading veteran’s advocates share their priorities with the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees. We talked with the VFW commander and served as the Ranking Member during a hearing on Thursday with other VSOs where we discussed the best ways we can help veterans receive the benefits they earned. 

• Judicial Confirmation: The Senate confirmed Timothy Brooks to serve as United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Arkansas. His nomination was unanimously approved. I spoke in support of his nomination on the Senate floor. 

• Merchant Marine Academy: During the 112^th Congress, Vice President Joe Biden appointed me to serve on the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors, the academy’s official oversight board. Current law creates a Board for the USMMA, but the law does adequately structure the Board to carry out its oversight duties so I introduced the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Board of Visitors Enhancement. This bill would improve the ability of the Board to perform critical oversight responsibilities and continue to train merchant mariners/military officers to meet critical national sealift needs. 

• Radio Interview: KFFB aired our discussion with station General Manager and owner Bob Connell about Obamacare, proposed cuts to the military, the Farm Bill and energy. If you missed it you can listen to the four-part interview here.