Dr. Boozman's Check-up
Week in Review: March 9-13
Mar 13 2015
Preventing the erosion of our Second Amendment rights, protecting religious freedom worldwide and prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit. Read about these and more in this “Week in Review.”
- ATF Withdraws Ammo Ban Proposal: One day after more than 50 of my Senate colleagues and I sent a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) director, condemning a proposal limiting access to rifle ammunition, the agency withdrew its plan.
- Protecting Religious Freedom: Rabbi David Saperstein, the State Department’s Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, testified before the Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee. I shared my concerns about the Administration’s refusal to blame the Islamic State group’s brand of radical Islam for its persecution of Christians and Jews.
- Increasing Access to Mental Health Care for Servicemembers and Veterans: Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and I introduced the Frontline Mental Health Provider Training Act. This legislation would help address mental health provider shortages and increase access to care for our servicemembers and veterans.
- Preventing Eligibility for Illegal Immigrants to Collect Earned Income Tax Credit: I helped introduced legislation denying the Earned Income Tax Credit to those made newly eligible for past benefits under the President’s executive actions on immigration. This bill closes a loophole that allows illegal immigrants to take advantage of the system and claim a refund financed by hardworking Americans.
- English as the Official Language: We are a nation of immigrants but our national identity and culture is firmly grounded in the English language. For that reason, I cosponsored the English Language Unity Act, legislation that would make English the official language of the United States.
- Arkansas Game and Fish Celebrates 100th Anniversary: This agency rejuvenated the state’s natural resources for future generations of Arkansans. I honored the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on its centennial anniversary in the Congressional Record, the official proceedings of Congress.
- Senate Air Force Caucus Leader: I’m proud to join Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Jon Tester (D-MT) to lead the Senate Air Force Caucus in the 114th Congress. This bipartisan group includes 35 members and focuses on issues impacting the U.S. Air Force. The caucus sponsors briefings, base visits and meetings with Air Force personnel throughout the year.
- UAPB Grant: The University of Arkansas Pine Bluff received a $1.4 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and strengthen partnerships for higher quality education services to children. Providing young Arkansans with a learning environment to help improve their education is important to ensure success.
- Hot Springs City Leaders Visit Washington: Leaders of the community were in the nation’s capital for the National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional City Conference. I had the opportunity to meet with the mayor and other city officials to discuss issues important to the community including the future drinking water supply of Hot Springs and the region. Watch the video.
What I Co-Sponsored This Week
S.678—The English Language Unity Act
Tags: Immigration Reform
S.686—A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a limitation on certain aliens from claiming the earned income tax credit.
Tags: Tax Policy/Immigration Reform
S.697—Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act
Tags: Government Reform/Infrastructure
S.714—The Frontline Mental Health Provider Training Act
Tags: Veterans/National Security
S.Con.Res.4—A concurrent resolution supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.
This week, the Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee held a hearing on our efforts to protect religious freedom abroad.
Rabbi David Saperstein, the State Department’s Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, was among the witnesses who testified.
It was a good opportunity to ask why the President and members of his administration has refused to identify the real motives behind the gruesome actions of the Islamic State (ISIS) group.
For example, when the Administration publicly responded to the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya, they failed to mention the faith and religious beliefs of the victims was the primary reason they were slaughtered by ISIS.
The Administration refuses to state the underlying reason this massacre happened, namely the ongoing, systematic religious persecution of Christians and Jews by the Islamic State group.
Ambassador Saperstein claimed there have been efforts to call attention to the terror group’s heinous acts of persecution, but I advised him that the average person simply doesn’t see anyone in this Administration forcefully making that case.
The Ambassador’s reply of “If that is the case then we have some work to do” says it all.
One easy place to start would be to clearly speak out against egregious atrocities ISIS continues to commit against those in the Middle East who do not share their warped view of Islam.
If we don’t identify or talk about the problem, we can’t solve it.
We need to encourage the same religious tolerance we embrace at home to be the norm around the globe, even if doing so at times requires us to call out acts of oppression committed by those who have twisted religion to fit their own radical agenda.
If anyone embodies a twisted view of radical Islam, it is the Islamic State group.
These terrorists are devoted to establishing a new Caliphate, ruled by Sharia law, where all would be forced to convert or die. There would be no religious freedom under ISIS rule. They are committed to destroying all who stand in their way. The US needs to be clear and resilient in our commitment to destroy ISIS.
From the Mailbag: Proposed Ammo Ban
Mar 09 2015
In this edition of 'From the Mailbag' Senator Boozman responds to an email from Paul in Fayetteville who said that he is opposed to the proposal by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) to ban a popular bullet used for the AR-15.
Week in Review: March 2-6
Mar 06 2015
The Israeli Prime Minister addresses Congress, the Senate attempts to override the Keystone veto and a new addition to Team Boozman. Read about these and more in this “Week in Review.”
- Review the Treasury Department’s Fiscal Year 2016 funding request: I chaired my first hearing of the Financial Services and General Government subcommittee where Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and IRS Commissioner John Koskinen testified. Watch my opening statement.
- I Stand With Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress. He delivered a powerful, forceful speech. His message for us to stand together must be the priority for any negotiations to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat. There is no viable containment option. In a floor speech in advance of the Prime Minister’s address, I said nothing short of full elimination of Iran’s nuclear program can honestly be considered a victory. If these talks fail to produce an agreement requiring that of Iran, Congress must have the authority to reject it.
- Senate Attempts to Override Keystone Veto: I voted to override President Obama’s veto of bipartisan legislation approving the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Unfortunately the attempt fell five votes short of the number needed to override the veto.
- Monticello Twenty for the Future: Monticello's Twenty for the Future representatives shared the economic developments being made in the community and we’re happy to continue that momentum and see how we can help these efforts to develop and attract jobs to the region. Watch the video.
- Northern Long-Eared Bat Designation Oversight: I led a letter with my senate colleagues to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director questioning the agency’s consideration of adding the Northern Long-Eared Bat to the endangered species list. These bats can be found across the entire state of Arkansas, and activities throughout most of our state could be impacted by the current proposals from the Service. Read more about these efforts.
- Welcome to the Team: Colonel (ret.) Anita Deason joined my staff as an advisor for military and veterans’ issues. She brings over three decades of military service to the table along with a keen understanding of issues facing our servicemembers, veterans and military families. A resident of Conway, Col. Deason will be based out of my Little Rock office but will travel around the state.
- Water Resources Research: I was pleased to join Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) to introduce legislation to reauthorize federal grant funding for water resources research institutes. The Water Resources Research Amendments Act (WRRA) will provide continued support for important research on state and regional water challenges, provide training for hydrologists and other water-related scientists and engineers, and fund public outreach and education on water issues. This will allow Arkansas and other states to solve serious problems related to our water needs.
What I Co-Sponsored This Week
S.423—Privacy Notice Modernization Act of 2015
Tags: Banking & Finance/Government Reform
S.440—Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act
Tags: Jobs/Education
S.611—A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize technical assistance to small public water systems, and for other purposes.
Tags: Government Reform/Infrastructure
S.637 –A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and modify the railroad track maintenance credit.
Tags: Transportation/Infrastructure
S.653—Water Resources Research Amendments Act of 2015
Tags: Government Reform/Infrastructure
S.Con.Res.7—A concurrent resolution authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.
S.Res.94 –A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Career and Technical Education Month.
Tags: Jobs/Education
From the Mailbag: Support Israel
Mar 02 2015
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.
Calling it a development “that may be something everyone can support”, the Southwest Times-Record editors offered up their support for the APPROVAL Act, legislation I introduced with Senator Cotton to restore the right of states to approve or disapprove of electric transmission projects before the federal government exercises its power to take private property.
Read the full editorial:
Whatever Decision Is Made, Let’s Make It In Arkansas [Southwest Times-Record, 02/15/15]
KFFB Open Mic
Feb 18 2015
I joined KFFB’s Bob Connell to talk about some of the topics under discussion in Washington that I’m hearing about from Arkansans. If you missed the two segments that aired earlier this week you can listen to the interview here. Listen in as we discuss the Keystone pipeline, how my office helps Arkansans and improvements to veterans mental health services.
Week in Review: February 9-13
Feb 13 2015
Two new bills I introduced, The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act becomes law, my speech on the President’s flawed national and homeland security strategies and more in this “Week in Review.”
- Preventing Veteran Suicides: Read my Roll Call opinion piece on the importance of the Clay Hunt SAV Act, which the President signed into law this week, and what next steps we should take to prevent suicides among veterans in this morning's edition of Roll Call.
- The Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP) Clarification and Reauthorization Bill: For my first bill of the new session, I joined with Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), in an effort to fight veteran homelessness by reauthorizing current programs and clarifying qualifications for existing housing assistance benefits.
- The APPROVAL Act: I joined with Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) to introduce legislation to restore the right of states to approve or disapprove of electric transmission projects before the federal government exercises its power to take private property.
- The Problems with the President's National and Homeland Security Strategies: I delivered a speech on the Senator floor on Thursday to raise concerns about the President's national and homeland security strategies, particularly whether the Administration is committed to taking action on radical Islamic terrorists like ISIS and the President's instance on requiring Congress to fund his unconstitutional executive order on immigration.
- #SERVINGAR: My office has assisted thousands of people with a wide range of matters involving the federal government, including the IRS, Social Security, Medicare, VA, international adoption, visas and many other issues. Learn how we can help you.
- UAPB Receives Grant: I joined U.S. Senator Tom Cotton and U.S. Representative Bruce Westerman (AR-4) to announce that the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) received a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to study foodborne pathogens in order to make our food healthier and prevent foodborne illnesses.
- KASU Radio Show: I joined Jonesboro’s KASU radio to discuss some of the issues we’re working on in Washington. We covered a wide range of topics including fighting in Ukraine and the President Obama’s request to Congress to formally authorize war against Islamic State militants, improvements to veterans mental health services and constituent service.
- Connecting with Arkansans: I joined 5News to talk about how my office uses social media to reach Arkansans. Watch the interview that aired on Sunday, February 8, 2015.
What I'm Sponsoring & Co-Sponsoring This Week
Feb 13 2015
The Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP) Clarification and Reauthorization Bill: For my first bill of the new session, I joined with Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), in an effort to fight veteran homelessness by reauthorizing current programs and clarifying qualifications for existing housing assistance benefits.
The APPROVAL Act: I joined with Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) to introduce legislation to restore the right of states to approve or disapprove of electric transmission projects before the federal government exercises its power to take private property.
Along with the legislation I introduced this week, I’ve lent my support to a handful of important bills that other Senators introduced this week including:
Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015. This bill would allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state that also has concealed carry laws, while abiding by that state’s concealed carry laws.
A Resolution Welcoming Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Visit: I signed on to Senator Cornyn’s resolution welcoming Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States for his address to a joint session of Congress next month.
A bill to Arm Ukraine: Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) introduced a bill that would authorize the President to arm Ukraine with lethal military aid. S.452 is currently the only bill in Congress that specifically authorizes the United States to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, which would remove any ambiguity as to whether the U.S. should supply its ally with offensive or defensive military aid. This is the only bill to also require the President to deliver to Congress a comprehensive strategy for our nation’s support of Ukraine.
Stay on top of all the bills I am cosponsoring in the 114th Congress by bookmarking this page where I will keep a running list.
