What do you think of when you hear the term "recess"? By definition, recess is a break from the usual work. For students this is the time to get out of the classroom and go to the playground. In Washington, a recess is a legislative break and an opportunity for me to spend time in Arkansas.

By tradition and by law, Congress recesses for the month of August. This practice dates back to the second session of the First Congress in 1790. Members didn’t want to be in Washington during the summer heat and humidity. Instead, they used this time off to meet with their constituents back in their districts. Lawmakers made this practice law in 1970. Congress mandated a summer break as part of the Legislative Reorganization Act. Today, the August recess continues to be a regular feature of the Congressional calendar where my colleagues and I work in our states.

I went to school, got married, raised a family, ran a business and lived in Arkansas for most of my life so I feel like August is a homecoming. It allows me to spend the month traveling around the state, learning about your views of Washington legislation, how it impacts your lives and what can be done to implement rules and regulations that can help us all. Just like homecomings at high schools, colleges and universities, my homecoming calendar is full of events, meetings and tours throughout the state.

Among these visits is an agriculture tour to talk with farmers, growers and ranchers around the state. I understand the importance of agriculture to our state’s economy. As Arkansas’s top industry we must create and support policies that protect our farm families and communities. As a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee I am committed to being a voice that serves the interests of the farming community.

Having the opportunity to spend time around the state during weekly recesses earlier this year I have been able to visit with many Arkansans from manufactures, civic leaders, to doctors and teachers. As I participate in radio interviews, roundtable discussions and meetings in Arkansas and in Washington, it is clear that there is frustration with the federal government. I am frustrated too. There is unsustainable Washington spending, mounting job losses and more and more unfunded regulations that hurt our bottom line. The good news is the concerns that you have are the same ones I am voicing on the Senate Floor, in committee hearings and to my colleagues in the halls of the Capitol.

The issue we’re hearing about most frequently is the reckless spending by the federal government. I have the same concerns many of you have. We can’t continue to spend taxpayer dollars that we don’t have. This year the federal government will spend $3.7 trillion while collecting only $2.2 trillion. The discussion about our mounting debt crisis won’t be over after debt ceiling negotiations have been finalized and passed by Congress. Washington will still have to show fiscal restraint in spending bills for the next fiscal year. I am confident that we can find common ground that will provide Americans the resources we rely on while at the same time putting us on the path of fiscal responsibility.

I am working to represent your interests and find answers to the problems we experience as individuals, communities, state and nation. I look forward to serving you and, as always, if there is something I can help with please don’t hesitate to ask.