Here’s a recap of some of this week’s posts in case you missed them.

• Senate Opens Debate on Gun Bill: Senate Majority Leader Reid opened debate on the Majority’s gun control bill this week. What we will be debating remains to be seen, but Majority Leader Reid has repeatedly suggested it will contain provisions that will erode the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans by creating a national registry of gun owners and limiting the type of firearms and ammunition that they can purchase. For this reason, I voted against allowing the debate to move forward. 

• President Obama Releases his Budget: The President released his long-delayed budget proposal this week. Unfortunately, it falls far short of what our nation needs to get back on a path to fiscal solvency.
  
  
• Questioning the EPA Nominee: For years the EPA has ignored repeated requests by Congress for data supporting policies and rules established by the agency. Hoping to put an end to this pattern, I asked the administration’s nominee to head the EPA, Gina McCarthy, about her intention to change the agency’s rulemaking policy during her nomination hearing this week.
  
  
• Bipartisan Legislation to Continue Program Serving Wounded Warriors Introduced: Senator Begich (D-AK) and I introduced legislation to extend the authorization for the U.S. Paralympic Integrated Adaptive Sports Program which partners with local organizations to develop programs and skills that meet the needs of our wounded warriors.
  
  
• Bill to Increase US Exports to Africa Introduced: When we talk about job creation, free and fair trade is a vital component to a successful plan. An effective trade strategy with African nations will help us significantly add jobs here at home. The eagerness and willingness to be good trade partners on the part of African nations is there. The desire for American products, along with our ideals, is strong. The only thing missing is a cohesive strategy on our end. That is what we are aiming to create with this legislation.
  
  
• Fighting the FAA’s Misguided Plans to Close Contract Towers: Congress has given the FAA flexibility to meet its post-sequestration budget without closing any contract towers. Yet the administration continues to insist that the closures are necessary. Senator Pryor and I are trying to prevent that.
  
  
• Tax Day is Coming:  Monday is April 15^th, a date we all know too well since taxes are due then. This week’s column is on why we need comprehensive tax reform. 

• USPS Backs off Threat to End Saturday Delivery:  The U.S. Postal Service backed away from its plans to eliminate Saturday mail delivery. This is good news for rural Arkansans, senior citizens and businesses who rely on the postal service to deliver the goods they need to succeed. 

• Talking Guns, Budget, North Korea & more with KASU: We talked with Mark Smith on Jonesboro’s KASU about a variety of topics facing our country including threats to our Second Amendment rights and the upcoming debate on gun control in the Senate. If you missed our interview you can listen to it here.