Dr. Boozman's Check-up
Week in Review: February 23-27
Feb 27 2015
President Obama’s misguided veto, meeting with Arkansas veterans and improving transparency in EPA rulemaking. Read about these and more in the “Week in Review.”
- Withholding funds for President Obama’s Executive Amnesty: After Senate Democrats filibustered four separate attempts to begin debate on the House bill that withheld funds for the President’s executive order, the Majority Leader brought forward a bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security without any conditions on Obama’s executive actions. The bill passed the Senate, but I voted against it.
- President Vetoes Keystone bill: This project has been studied for more than six years and has been given the green light at every obstacle. Arkansans and all Americans can see that President Obama is the real hurdle to Keystone. I will continue to support this project, and I urge the Senate to quickly vote to override this veto.
- Disaster Recovery Grant for Pulaski and Faulkner Counties: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) provided $96,000 to the counties to help with disaster recovery efforts form the 2014 EF4 tornado. The money will be used to remove debris from streams in order to prevent future flooding.
- Arkansas Veterans Visit: Veterans Service Organizations shared their priorities with Congress and the needs of their members. I met with Arkansas members of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and the Disabled American Veterans as national commanders testified before the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees.
- GI Bill Fairness Act: I joined Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) to introduce this legislation that would ensure wounded Guardsmen and Reservists receive the GI Bill benefits they’ve earned.
- Celebrating 90 years of VFW Post 1322: Congratulations to Van Buren’s VFW Post 1322, the oldest VFW post in Arkansas, on its 90th anniversary. I honored the post in the Congressional Record.
- EPA Transparency: We’re working to improve confidence in the fairness and transparency of EPA regulations and rulemaking by reforming the science advisory process. Learn more about the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act.
- Updating FAA’s Pilot General Aviation Regulations: Congress is working to reform FAA’s general aviation medical standards to maintain safety while supporting capable pilots and sustaining economic growth in the industry. Read about the legislation I introduced to accomplish this.