ICYMI: Westerman expresses concerns on EPA IRIS program & risk assessment of formaldehyde

WASHINGTON - Last week, Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) sent a letter to leadership at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) expressing concern on the EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System Program (IRIS) program and how its risk assessment of formaldehyde could negatively impact important sectors of the economy and the environment.

In part, Westerman wrote:
“I urge each of you to work together to fully examine the impacts that this IRIS assessment and forthcoming EPA actions might have on several issues under the purview of each of your agencies before the EPA finalizes this risk assessment. Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, Section 9 of TSCA, EPA’s IRIS process, and Executive Order 12866 all contain specific requirements for interagency coordination. My concern is that this is not currently happening. In December, the EPA announced its search for candidates to assist in the peer review of the formaldehyde risk assessment and signaled that it “intends to defer to the draft 2022” IRIS assessment for forthcoming regulatory activities under TSCA and FIFRA. This assessment fails to live up to the interagency review process that is paramount to making decisions that protect the environment and public health. I urge you all to address these issues before the EPA moves forward with the IRIS risk assessment of formaldehyde.”

BACKGROUND:

• In Fall 2023, Congressman Westerman visited Bakelite Synthetics in Crossett, Arkansas, where he heard concerns from stakeholders on the EPA’s lack of consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (NWS) on its IRIS assessment of formaldehyde.

• The EPA’s IRIS Program is located within the EPA’s Office of Research and Development; this program develops risk assessments for certain chemicals.

• While the EPA plays an important role in protecting public health and the environment, the IRIS program has long been the subject of scrutiny and has been seen as lacking transparency. The U.S. Government Accountability Office issued reports in 2020 and 2022 citing concerns with delays in the process and the need for greater transparency.

• The IRIS assessment for formaldehyde is currently under development at EPA; this assessment could potentially be used to inform regulatory activities under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), among others. Regulations under these statutes can have numerous impacts across industries.

• In recent years, Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have repeatedly raised concerns about this assessment, specifically that an unworkable or unachievable standard would negatively impact multiple sectors of the economy and the environment.

• Congressman Westerman’s letter echoes these concerns, encouraging the EPA, the NMFS, and the FWS to work together in evaluating and developing this IRIS assessment.

• Given formaldehyde’s prevalence across sectors of the economy—with Arkansas home to multiple facilities that produce this chemical—the process to develop this risk assessment needs to utilize the best available science and ensure that all agencies with an interest in the issue are consulted.

Click here to read the full letter. 

State officials take steps to avoid spread of avian influenza in dairy cattle

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy herds in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, and New Mexico.

Symptoms of the virus in dairy cattle include decreased lactation, low appetite, and thickening of milk.

To date, there have been no reported cases of HPAI in livestock within Arkansas, the state’s Department of Agriculture has reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that a dairy farm worker tested positive for HPAI in Texas on April 1.

State officials take steps to avoid spread of avian influenza in dairy cattle

Cotton, Sullivan, Colleagues to Austin: NATO is Not a Charity

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), along with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and 20 of their Senate Republican colleagues, today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin requesting an update on how the Department of Defense evaluates U.S. activities as they relate to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members’ defense expenditures, in compliance with the requirement in the FY24 NDAA.

Co-signing the letter were Senators Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri).

In part, the senators wrote:

“NATO is not a charity; it’s a military alliance. All NATO members must bear a meaningful share of the burdens of collective defense.”

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

April 4, 2024

The Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III
Secretary of Defense?
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1000

Dear Mr. Secretary,

We write to you inquiring how the Department of Defense is implementing Section 1250 of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This provision of law requires you to consider whether a NATO partner “has achieved defense spending of not less than 2 percent of its gross domestic product” when weighing decisions related to U.S. military basing, training, and exercises within the alliance.

We are committed to the historic NATO alliance and are encouraged that NATO countries collectively increased defense spending by 11% in 2023. However, a total of only 11 out of 32 NATO countries presently meet their defense spending commitments under the 2014 Wales and 2023 Vilnius Summit Declarations. According to optimistic estimates, 18 NATO nations are expected to meet their defense spending commitments this year. This means that barely half of NATO members will meet the deadline to increase defense spending to a minimum of two percent of gross domestic product—a deadline that was self-imposed and agreed to by unanimous consent.

Many wealthy NATO members have chronically shortchanged their own militaries and relied on other members of the alliance, particularly the United States, to make the investments necessary to achieve collective defense. The United States cannot be expected to satisfy its financial obligation if other NATO members are unwilling or unable to do the same. Our government must hold these allies accountable and Section 1250 of the FY24 NDAA is an important step in that direction.

NATO is not a charity; it’s a military alliance. All NATO members must bear a meaningful share of the burdens of collective defense.

We therefore request an update no later than April 25 on how the Department of Defense evaluates U.S. activities as they relate to NATO members’ defense expenditures, in compliance with the requirement in the FY24 NDAA.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter.

 Sincerely,

National Weather Service Eclipse Weather Briefing for Arkansas

A large storm system will be over the southwest United States during the day of the eclipse. Ahead of the system, a south to southwest flow will bring increasing moisture and the possibility of clouds/chances of showers throughout the path of totality in Arkansas.  

Important to Remember: Despite vast improvements of weather models in recent years, any information over more than a few days of a specific time is subject to change. Forecast details will be fine tuned as additional data is received up to the time of the eclipse.   

Cotton, Colleagues to Biden: Hosting Iraqi Prime Minister is Inappropriate, Undermines Israel

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and 7 of his congressional colleagues today sent a letter to President Joe Biden to express their deep concern with the White House’s plan to host Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in April.

The letter notes that President Biden’s decision to meet with Prime Minister al-Sudani at this time sends the message that the Biden administration is more interested in appeasing Iran than supporting Israel defeat Hamas. The planned visit will occur even as Iraq continues to fund numerous terror groups and remains under significant Iranian influence.

Co-signing the letter were Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida), Congressman Jake Ellzey (Texas-06), Congressman French Hill (Arkansas-02), Congressman Mike Turner (Ohio-10), and Congressman Mike Waltz (Florida-06). 

Text of the letter may be found here and below.

March 28, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden
The White House,
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20502

Dear President Biden,

We write to express our deep concern with your invitation to host Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to the White House in April. 

Hosting the Iraqi Prime Minister, especially while failing to meet with leaders of some of our most trusted partners in the region, amplifies the message of your ongoing campaign to undermine Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu: The Biden administration is interested in appeasing Iran, not supporting our allies. 

The Iraqi government remains under significant Iranian influence, and the Iraqi government provides some $3 billion per year to the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces militias, including four U.S.-designated terrorist groups. These militias have attacked Americans and Kurdistan over 180 times just since October 7, 2023, resulting in three American servicemember deaths and over 100 casualties. Yet you continue granting sanctions waivers to the Iraqi government to import Iranian electricity and natural gas, all while using U.S. dollars transferred to Iraq from the Federal Reserve. And while you invite the Iraqi Prime Minister to visit Washington, you have refused to meet with Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, a critical partner and the host of the most U.S. forces in the region. 

The Iraqi government is actively working with Tehran against our Kurdish allies, including cutting off government funds and closing the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline, which represents most of Kurdistan’s economy. You should focus on reducing Iranian influence in Iraq and shoring up support for our partners in Kurdistan. As a precondition of any visit by Prime Minister al-Sudani, you should require the immediate reopening of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline so that the Kurdistan Region is able to export oil and U.S. public and private financing are no longer threatened by Tehran’s influence in Baghdad. You should also require that the Iraqi government resume funding for the Kurdistan Region, the immediate sale of Kurdistan crude already at the Ceyhan port, and a full cycle of oil sales and payments to Kurdistan and its oil investors. Finally, you should not allow further U.S. dollar transfers to Iraq until the Treasury Department certifies that such transfers do not benefit the Iranian regime or its proxies.

Your appeasement of Iran has endangered American national security and weakened our relationship with our allies. While the corrective actions outlined here will not undo the damage you’ve caused, they represent an important first step.  Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Boozman, Heinrich, Kennedy Lead Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Restore Wetlands and Migratory Bird Habitat

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), members of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, along with Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) lead their colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) through 2028. The legislation would also increase authorized annual funding for the program to $65 million. 

NAWCA was originally enacted in 1989 to provide federal matching grants —in partnership with funding from state and local governments, private industry and non-profit organizations—to projects that conserve North America’s wetlands, waterfowl and wildlife.  

“Tens of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat have been conserved in Arkansas thanks to NAWCA, which helps promote and maintain wetlands that serve as a world-class duck hunting environment. Ensuring we continue to protect and preserve it and other outdoor recreation sites not only benefits migratory bird populations and other species, it is also a sound economic investment. I’m proud to join Sen. Heinrich and our colleagues to introduce legislation reauthorizing this important program,” said Boozman.

“We owe it to our kids and grandkids to ensure they can inherit the full breadth of American wildlife and the wetlands that sustain them,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to bolster our nation’s most successful wetlands restoration program. By reauthorizing the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, this legislation will improve access to clean drinking water, invest in our thriving multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy and conserve New Mexico’s wildlife and the habitats they depend on for future generations.” 

“Louisiana’s wetlands are a big part of our state’s outdoor sportsman culture and geographical beauty. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is an important step to preserve our wildlife and protect our environment’s natural defense system,” said Kennedy. 

Wetlands secure freshwater supplies, recharge aquifers, and mitigate soil erosion and flooding. In addition, waterfowl, migratory birds, fish and other wildlife that depend on wetlands support multibillion-dollar outdoor recreation activities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and photography. NAWCA funding has been critical to acquiring, restoring and enhancing this habitat in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. In total, more than 3,300 NAWCA projects have contributed to the conservation and restoration of more than 32 million acres of habitat all across North America. 

NAWCA has provided a great return on investment, generating on average two additional dollars for every federal dollar. Over the program’s history, federal grants totaling more than $2.1 billion have spurred $4.3 billion for NAWCA projects through matching funds. NAWCA funds have also supported an average of 7,500 jobs each year and more than $5 billion in annual economic activity. 

The legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). 

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is endorsed by Delta Waterfowl, Boone and Crockett, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Audubon, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Outdoor Industry Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Restore America’s Estuaries. 

“NAWCA is a foundational pillar of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation,” said Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam. “The voluntary, incentive-based approach has conserved millions of acres of habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife while helping improve water quality and quantity and making our communities more resilient.”  

“The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is one of the most cost-effective conservation investments we can make. Often matched at a rate of 3:1, this important program is a great example of how federal investments into conservation can be leveraged with private contributions to secure a significant return on investment to bolster on-the-ground conservation,” said Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation President and CEO Jeff Crane.

“Wetlands shield against floods, help clean our drinking water and provide habitat for diverse plant and animal life. Reauthorizing the North American Wetlands Conservation Act is an opportunity for Congress to continue America's conservation legacy while sparking job creation and outdoor recreation opportunities.” said Tom Cors, Senior Legislative Director, The Nature Conservancy.  

“North America’s wetlands demonstrate what is possible for people, wildlife and clean water when we make strategic, concerted investments in conserving and restoring vital habitat,” said Andrew Wilkins, Land Conservation Policy Director, National Wildlife Federation. “This reauthorization bill will help keep our commitment to wetlands conservation strong and ensure that the people and wildlife whose work, water and way of life can endure for future generations. Congress should ensure the North American Wetlands Conservation Act remains one of America’s most successful conservation programs since it first passed in 1989.”  

The text of the bill is here. 

Crawford, Cohen, Boozman, Cotton, introduce bill to mint coin memorializing Sultana disaster

Washington — Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-01) and Steve Cohen (TN-09), along with U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR), introduced legislation to create a commemorative coin in remembrance of the greatest maritime disaster in U.S. history – the sinking of the Sultana Steamboat. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the coin  will help fund the preservation, maintenance, and display of artifacts at the Sultana Disaster Museum in Marion, Arkansas, as well as assist in the construction of a new and larger facility.

“The tragedy of the Sultana is one that is often forgotten about, but it serves as an important reminder of our past and the lives that were lost. This bill helps fund the efforts of those at the Sultana Disaster Museum who have dedicated their time to telling this story and keeping the memory of the victims alive. I’m proud to work with my friend Steve Cohen to bring awareness about what happened so long ago, during that horrible time of extreme fracture and violence, where brother fought against brother. I hope that Steve and my working together, across the aisle, for this shared purpose can show Americans that brighter days are always in front of us,” said Crawford.

“The Sultana disaster and loss of life in the Mississippi River within sight of Memphis in 1865 deserves the commemoration this coin represents. Americans should know of the sacrifice made by so many in the tragic days as the Civil War finally drew to an end, as well as the senseless negligence that caused it. I’m pleased to work with my friend Rick Crawford, who represents the Crittenden County graveyard of the historic steamship northwest of Memphis, and hope our efforts bring further attention to this tragic footnote in American history,” said Cohen.

“As community support for the Sultana Disaster Museum continues to grow, we’re carrying the momentum in Congress by introducing this legislation to preserve the history of this tragedy and honor the victims and survivors with a commemorative coin. I’m proud to join this initiative to ensure both are forever remembered,” said Boozman.

“This coin will continue to honor the victims, and raise awareness about one of the worst tragedies in our military’s history. It is an important piece of history that I’m proud to join the Arkansas delegation in remembering,” said Cotton.

Sultana Disaster Museum Picture

The Sultana was a 260-foot-long wooden steamboat that exploded, burned, and sank into the Mississippi River on April 27, 1865. This tragedy claimed the lives of more than 1,000 passengers. Most of the victims were released Union prisoners of war who were returning to the north after the end of the Civil War.

Efforts to preserve artifacts from the Sultana began in 1982 when the remains of the Sultana were rediscovered. In 2011, Arkansas State University hosted the first public exhibit of relics from the disaster. A small museum opened in Marion to house these pieces of history and, after persistent efforts from the community and the Sultana Historical Preservation Society, ground was broken in November 2022 on a new multi-million dollar facility to host this educational and economic resource. 

This legislation would authorize the U.S. Department of Treasury to mint in 2027 $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins and half-dollar coins.

Retailers win class-action settlement with Visa, Mastercard over swipe fees

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

U.S. retailers and merchants reached a settlement over swipe fees with Visa and Mastercard that is expected to reduce swipe fees over the next five years by $29.79 billion.

Through the agreement, which merchants say is one of the largest in U.S. antitrust history, Visa and Mastercard will lower published credit-card interchange fees by four basis points in the U.S. for at least three years. The companies also won’t raise interchange fees for five years above the rates that were in place at the end of 2023.

“This settlement is the culmination of eight years of hard-fought litigation and detailed, painstaking negotiations. It provides comprehensive market-based solutions to too-high swipe fees while providing immediate fee relief to merchants as they make these new competitive tools work for them,” said Steve Shadowen, co-lead counsel for the retailers.

Retailers win class-action settlement with Visa, Mastercard over swipe fees

Rep. Crawford votes to fund government for FY 2024

Washington — Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement after voting in favor of The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.

“While much more is needed to achieve operational control of the border, this bill includes key border-security policy changes that I feel are critical and time sensitive. President Biden’s progressive wave of liberal policies have been a disaster at the border and for our economy, all while more unvetted criminals pour into our communities. We must focus our undivided attention on the additional changes required to secure the border,” said Rep. Crawford.

The legislation fulfills the House Republican majority’s commitments under the Fiscal Responsibility Act and achieves additional, conservative policy victories. A few of those victories are detailed below:

• Funds 22,000 border agents, which was a key demand included in the Republican-led border security bill, The Secure the Border Act.

• Robustly funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to increase migrant detention beds from 34,000 to nearly 42,000. That will help ensure that more illegal migrants are processed appropriately and not immediately paroled into the U.S.

• Prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from preventing a member of Congress from entering any detention or housing facility administered by DHS. This allows Congress to oversee what DHS is doing with illegal migrants at any time and ensures that taxpayer dollars are being used wisely.

• Provides necessary funding for our nation’s brave men and women in the military and gives our troops a 5.2% pay increase.

• Prohibits funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Israel has provided evidence that UNRWA employees participated in the heinous October 7th attack on innocent Israeli civilians, and there are allegations that current UNRWA employees have ties to Hamas.

• Prohibits the State Department from flying flags other than the U.S. flag over diplomatic facilities.

• Maintains all current, pro-life riders.

• Rescinds billions of dollars in unnecessary, left-over COVID-19 funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and other Biden Administration-supported legislation.

• Funds our nation’s critically important rural health programs, which directly benefit the residents of the 1st Congressional District, including those who use our rural hospitals and community health centers.

• Prohibits the Biden Administration from using any Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funds to advocate for gun control, which would be in direct violation of our 2nd Amendment rights.

• Prohibits the Biden Administration’s over-reaching and foolish plan to ban gas stoves in Americans’ homes.

Womack supports National Security, secures funding for Ebbing Air National Guard Base

Washington, DC—March 22, 2024…Today, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 1102, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024,which is a package of the remaining six Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations bills, including Congressman Steve Womack’s (AR-3) Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) bill.

Congressman Womack said, “I supported the package today because I refuse to turn my back on strengthening national security, improving border security, and additional funding for Fort Smith’s critical pilot training program—all while avoiding a painful government shutdown. Although the package is far from perfect, I’m proud of the GOP’s work to secure conservative wins. The package enables the Pentagon to focus on its core mission while expanding support for our troops. It increases the number of Border Patrol agents and expands detention capacity to address the border crisis. Committed to our friend Israel, the package provides defense assistance and halts all funding for UNRWA for its proven collusion with Hamas. My FSGG bill rescinds funding for Biden’s army of IRS agents, pulls back billions of unused COVID-era slush funds, and holds Biden’s hyper-regulatory agenda in check. In a two-to-one divided government, we must take the wins where we can. I will not let the perfect get in the way of the good.”

Legislation details:

The package includes the remaining six FY24 appropriations bills: Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Legislative Branch; and State-Foreign Operations.

The Senate must pass the House-approved package for it to be signed into law by President Biden.

Ebbing Air National Guard Base:

The Defense bill includes $207.947 million for the Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, AR. This funding is in addition to the $83 million signed into law on March 9.

Conservative wins:

Increases funding to the Department of Defense to modernize our military, funds a pay raise for our troops, and cuts wasteful partisan programs:

• Provides our servicemembers with a historic 5.2% pay raise — the largest in over two decades.

• Includes $1.2 billion to fight against the flow of illicit fentanyl and counternarcotics — $291 million above the President’s budget.

• Prohibits funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology and EcoHealth Alliance in China.

Increases funding for the Department of Homeland Security for border security and enforcement while rejecting a blank check for open borders:

• Increases ICE detention bed capacity to 41,500, an increase of 7,500 above the FY23 level.

• Funds 22,000 Border Patrol Agents — the highest level ever funded and same as authorized in H.R. 2.

• Restores shortfalls in border security technology and funds non-intrusive inspection equipment to counter fentanyl.

Additional policy wins:

• Reaffirms our commitment to Israel by fully funding our annual security commitment of $3.3 billion.

• Prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves.

• Only allows for the American flag and other official flags to fly over U.S. diplomatic facilities.

• Maintains the Hyde Amendment and other pro-life protections.

Significant cuts to spending:

• Cuts 6% of overall foreign aid funds, including enhanced and new conditions on assistance to organizations like the U.N.

• Prohibits funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and U.N. Commission of Inquiry against Israel.

• Rescinds $20.2 billion from President Biden’s IRS expansion.

• Claws back an additional $6 billion in unused COVID funds.

Boozman-Led recycling and composting bills pass Senate

WASHINGTON – Legislation backed by Senate Recycling Caucus co-chair Senator John Boozman (R-AR) that would improve our nation’s recycling and composting systems unanimously passed the Senate last week.

Boozman, along with Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), have been leading proponents of the pair of legislative initiatives to enhance recycling capabilities and expand opportunities for recycling and composting in rural and underserved areas.

“These bills will lead to sustainable practices that preserve our resources while enhancing our nation’s recycling and composting infrastructure. I appreciate Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito’s leadership championing solutions to expand opportunities to be better stewards of our environment. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass these commonsense measures that will also benefit the economy and create jobs,” said Boozman.

“Most Americans want to do their part to reduce waste and harmful pollution,” said Carper. “Yet, roughly two-thirds of recyclable materials still aren’t being recycled, resulting in more and more waste polluting our land, air and oceans. These two bipartisan bills will help address several of the challenges plaguing our nation’s recycling and composting systems — including reliable data collection and improving access to recycling programs. I am pleased to see these two bills pass the Senate, and I thank Senators Capito and Boozman for once again working with me on a critical issue for our nation and our planet, because there is no Planet B.”

“By passing these bills, the Senate took a positive step forward in making it easier for more people to recycle, especially in rural states like West Virginia, which is good for the environment and our economy,” said Capito. “This bipartisan legislation would implement commonsense policies and programs to improve access to recycling across the country, and create good-paying jobs in our communities. I appreciate Chairman Carper and Senator Boozman for once again working together to increase recycling and composting opportunities in the future.” 

RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT:

The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act would improve data collection on our nation’s recycling systems and explore the potential of a national composting strategy. The legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to collect and publish data on recycling and composting rates across the country to provide an accurate reflection of performance both nationwide and at the state level. This information is critical to improving existing recycling and composting programs and evaluating future recycling policies.

Full text of the bill is available here.

RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCESSIBILITY ACT:

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act would establish a pilot recycling program at the EPA. This program would award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for improving recycling accessibility in a community or communities within the same geographic area. The goal of the program is to fund eligible projects that would significantly improve access to recycling systems in underserved communities through the use of a hub-and-spoke model for recycling infrastructure development.

Full text of the bill is available here.

As a founder and co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus, Boozman has championed initiatives to improve commercial and curbside recycling and hosted events bringing together industry leaders to promote sustainability and preservation of our natural resources. 

There is broad support for the recycling and composting legislation. Here are what stakeholders are saying about these bills:

American Beverage Association
“The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act and the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act will help move our country closer to a circular economy for recyclables that reduces plastic waste and decreases the use of new plastic. We will continue to work with federal lawmakers on well-designed policy that recovers more of our bottles and cans so they can be remade into new ones, as intended, keeping them out of nature.”  

American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA)
“AF&PA applauds the leadership of Senators Carper, Capito and Boozman on Senate passage of the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act and the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act. We look forward to working with Congress to address any concerns and move this legislation to improve recycling data and accessibility forward.”

Consumer Brands Association
“Consumer Brands appreciates the strong, bipartisan effort in Congress to tackle the glaring issues within America’s fragmented recycling system that are keeping us from reaching our potential. These bills make crucial investments and add the tools and resources needed to improve our current recycling systems and evaluate future recycling policies, while improving access to recycling systems in underserved communities.”

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
“Recycling is one of the most important activities that all of us can do every day to help protect our environment, conserve natural materials, reduce energy use, and help combat climate change because recycled materials are important building blocks in the global manufacturing chain. For example, using recycled aluminum saves 95 percent of the energy needed to make virgin aluminum. Accordingly, the RCAA would establish baseline data on recycling and composting in the United States and collect data on the amounts of materials that are being diverted to landfills or incineration. This data is essential to fill the existing data gaps and provide policymakers with a better understanding of our nation’s recycling programs as we discuss policy prescriptions.”

Cotton, Banks introduce the Countering Chinese Political Warfare Act

Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Countering Chinese Political Warfare Act, legislation that would sanction any individual or group that conducts political warfare on behalf of a foreign government against the United States. The legislation also requires the Secretary of State to determine if the United Front Work Department (UFWD)—an overseas influence arm of the Chinese Communist Party—qualifies for sanctions. Representative Jim Banks (Indiana-03) introduced companion legislation in the House.

“The Chinese Communist Party has proven that it will spread disinformation and lie any way it can—from the oppression of Uyghurs, to the origins of COVID-19, to it accessing the data of Americans who use TikTok. Any person or group who spread the Chinese Communists’ propaganda, like UFWD, should face sanctions,” said Senator Cotton. 

“The United Front Work Department has targeted our universities, state and local lawmakers, business associations and even Congress. This bill gives America the necessary tools to strike back against malign Communist Party influence on US soil,” said Congressman Banks.

Text of the bill may be found here. 

The Countering Chinese Political Warfare would:

• Create a new sanctions authority against state backed political warfare networks.

• Require the Secretary of State to examine whether or not the United Front Work Department meets the criteria to be sanctioned under this new authority. 

Background:

• On December 2, 2020 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took the historic step of imposing visa sanctions on individuals active in the UFWD.  

• Chairman Xi has described the United Front as a “magic weapon” that will help bring about “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 

• The United Front has led aggressive campaigns of subversion and espionage on U.S. college campuses through the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) and Chinese-language centers called Confucius Institutes. The United Front has also funded a number of think tanks in Washington D.C., and co-opted business leaders to squash criticism of China. Despite this information, there are currently over a hundred United Front organizations that openly operate in the United States.

Boozman, McConnell, colleagues push back on EPA’s regulatory overkill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in introducing legislation to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing a new rule tightening fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standards, which would further halt the growth of America’s manufacturing industry. Boozman, McConnell and 44 other Senate Republicans have filed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to prevent the EPA from implementing this new mandate. 

The Biden administration’s EPA is tightening PM2.5 emissions for the first time in a decade, despite its own data reporting that concentrations have fallen by over 40 percent since 2000. Additionally, the vast majority of PM2.5 emissions come from sources like wildfires and dust from agriculture and roads that are not easily contained and – in some cases – impossible to control.

“Under this administration, the EPA has yet to find a burdensome regulation it didn’t embrace. Crippling the economy in countless rural communities despite evidence that current standards are delivering on cleaner air is absurd, will cost Americans’ jobs and drive up costs. I’m proud to join Leader McConnell and our colleagues to prevent this regulatory overkill from taking effect,” Boozman said.

“The Biden administration rolled out yet another job-killing mandate that would impose more unilateral economic pain at home. This one goes well beyond the regulatory standards of most European allies, let alone our top strategic competitor, China. The EPA’s new standard is so strict that upon its effect, 30 percent of U.S. counties, including many in my home state of Kentucky, would immediately find themselves out of compliance, grounding manufacturing growth to a halt. In order to keep up with President Biden’s new mandate, American manufacturers would be forced to import raw materials, like concrete and steel, for virtually any construction project. The kind of projects that grow our economy and supply good-paying jobs,” said McConnell.

Wildfires, road dust and other hard to control non-point sources now make up 84 percent of particulate matter, leaving states few options when trying to comply with EPA’s needlessly stringent new standards. Nearly 20 percent of counties in the U.S. could fail to meet the standard, resulting in permitting gridlock that threatens new infrastructure projects, expanded manufacturing and the economic growth that creates well-paying jobs. On top of that, counties with particulate matter levels just below the standards would also face restrictions on development. That’s why the U.S. Chamber supports Leader McConnell’s Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval,” said Chad Whiteman, Vice President of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Boozman, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and other senators wrote EPA Administrator Michael Regan to urge the agency to rescind the proposed rule last September.

A CRA resolution is a tool used by Congress to eliminate onerous regulations imposed by the executive branch through an expedited procedure for consideration in the Senate. A joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA is afforded special privileges that bypass normal Senate rules and allow for a vote on the Senate floor. When a CRA resolution is approved by a simple majority in both chambers of Congress and signed by the president—or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto—the rule is invalidated.

Joining Boozman and McConnell on the CRA resolution are Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tedd Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Todd Young (R-IN).

Click here for text of the CRA resolution.

Clinton Presidential Center presents conversation with Hillary Clinton, first female Archivist of the United States

KUAR | By Seth Hooker

On Thursday, March 14, the Clinton Presidential Center presented a conversation between Dr. Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States and Former Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Shogan leads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) which preserves some of the nation’s most historic documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The talk was held in honor of Women’s History Month.

Clinton began by acknowledging Shogan as the first woman to serve as Archivist of the United States. When asked why she thought it was important for women to be in the rooms where big decisions happen, Shogan said the key reason was “agenda setting.”

Clinton Presidential Center presents conversation with Hillary Clinton, first female Archivist of the United States

Clinton Center/YouTube

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks with Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan in an event hosted by the Clinton Presidential Center on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Speaker Recommends Prunes for Good Bone Health During National Nutrition Month

By Ben Boulden

March 15, 2024 | Long recommended as an aid to digestion, prunes are a good source of different nutrients important for maintaining bone density in postmenopausal women and perhaps contributing to good bone health in all adults, according to Shirin Hooshmand, Ph.D., RD.

Hooshmand is a professor of nutrition at San Diego State University in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Services. Her primary research interests include investigating nutritional factors that impact the aging process and developing interventions to improve physiological changes associated with aging.

 The presentation was part of the UAMS Department of Dietetics and Nutrition Seminar series, which presents the seminars online each month. Hooshmand was invited to speak for this month’s seminar, and March is National Nutrition Month.

Speaker Recommends Prunes for Good Bone Health During National Nutrition Month

Shirin Hooshmand, Ph.D., R.D.

Arkansas congressional delegation approve of bill that would force sale of Tik Tok

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Last week, the Arkansas congressional delegation voted in support of a bill that passed the House that would force Tik Tok, a Chinese company, to sell to an American company, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

In a press release, U.S Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, said he voted for the bill because of concerns he has related to how the data collected from the app is being handled.

“There is no separation between national security and the state when it comes to the CCP. TikTok is using CCP dominated technology that is being leveraged to gather massive amounts of data on American citizens, posing a major national security risk. We must protect Americans from the growing threat of the CCP by requiring the sale of TikTok to an American company. Whether TikTok remains on the phones of Americans or not is now up to TikTok’s owner, Chinese headquartered ByteDance,” Hill said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which would protect central Arkansans and Americans from national security risks posed by applications owned by our foreign adversaries. 

“This is not about targeting TikTok – my vote today was about protecting central Arkansans and Americans from surveillance and manipulation by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). There is no separation between national security and the state when it comes to the CCP. TikTok is using CCP dominated technology that is being leveraged to gather massive amounts of data on American citizens, posing a major national security risk. We must protect Americans from the growing threat of the CCP by requiring the sale of TikTok to an American company. Whether TikTok remains on the phones of Americans or not is now up to TikTok’s owner, Chinese headquartered ByteDance.” 

Further Background:

 H.R. 7521 - Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act: This bill prohibits applications controlled by foreign adversaries of the United States from being distributed, maintained or updated by online app stores and allows the President to require divestment of an application’s foreign adversary-controlled company ownership or face prohibition on app stores and access to web hosting services in the United States. 

For more details on this bill, please visit HERE.

Arkansas officials provide update on safety precautions that will be taken during the solar eclipse

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Next month, Arkansas is expected to receive 300,000 to 1 million visitors in the state. The first weekend of April will be when the state will be under a solar eclipse, which is expected to bring tourists to the state.

In an interview with Arkansas PBS, Lorie Tudor, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said ARDOT is preparing for the increased traffic that will result from the eclipse.

“We’ll have supplies for everybody that might end up in some kind of a traffic delay situation, like gasoline, water, food and medical supplies,” she said. “We have these all terrain small vehicles that we can get in and we use these during winter weather and other times, when the traffic is in a delay situation.”

Arkansas officials provide update on safety precautions that will be taken during the solar eclipse

Boozman, Thune, Crapo Lead Colleagues in Demanding Biden Administration Increase Agricultural Exports

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, along with Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, led 18 of their colleagues in urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to increase U.S. agricultural exports and improve the competitiveness of U.S. products abroad.  

“We expect trade to fluctuate in response to macroeconomic factors and market conditions,” wrote the senators. “However, the current sharp decline in U.S. agricultural exports is directly attributable to and exacerbated by an unambitious U.S. trade strategy that is failing to meaningfully expand market access or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. While the Biden administration continually refuses to pursue traditional free trade agreements, China, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and others continue to ink trade pacts that diminish American export opportunities and global economic influence.”

The letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds, (R-SD), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

 Full letter here and below:

Dear Ambassador Tai and Secretary Vilsack: 

We write to express deep concern with the continued erosion of critical markets for U.S. agricultural exports. For decades, the United States steadily increased market access for U.S. food and agricultural products. We accomplished this feat through negotiations of actual free trade agreements, removal of technical barriers to trade, and holding our trading partners accountable to their commitments, all of which have helped strengthen the agriculture economy at home and developed important strategic relationships abroad. Yet, in the last fiscal year (FY) alone, U.S. agricultural exports declined by more than $17 billion, and recent forecasts show a further decline by more than $8 billion in FY 2024. As a result, the U.S. agricultural trade deficit is projected to reach a record $30.5 billion in FY 2024. This decline is unsustainable, and we urge the Biden administration to immediately take action to improve the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural products abroad and reverse this trend.

We expect trade to fluctuate in response to macroeconomic factors and market conditions. However, the current sharp decline in U.S. agricultural exports is directly attributable to and exacerbated by an unambitious U.S. trade strategy that is failing to meaningfully expand market access or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. While the Biden administration continually refuses to pursue traditional free trade agreements, China, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and others continue to ink trade pacts that diminish American export opportunities and global economic influence.

International trade is critical to the continued success of U.S. agriculture. For the 2023 marketing year, nearly 70 million acres of major crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat were planted to meet the demands of our foreign customers. Additionally, more than 95 percent of U.S. cotton produced, nearly 80 percent of almonds produced, and more than 70 percent of nonfat milk powder produced were destined for the export market in 2023. And in a typical year, half of U.S.-produced rice and 20 percent of U.S.-produced potatoes are exported. Diminishing access to foreign agricultural markets for U.S. industries creates significant economic headwinds and jeopardizes the livelihoods of more than one million American workers, farmers, and ranchers, as well as millions more U.S. jobs throughout the export supply chain. 

With our concerns in mind, please respond to the following questions within 14 days of your receipt of this letter. 

• What specific actions does the Biden administration plan to take to increase U.S. agricultural exports in 2024?

• Does the Biden administration intend to pursue new or improved free trade agreements with any countries to obtain new market access for agricultural products in 2024?

We further ask the Biden administration to take steps to analyze and consider the relationship between U.S. competitiveness and market share in foreign agricultural markets with negotiated tariffs, tariff rate quotas, and other market access provisions. 

A continued decline in U.S. agricultural exports is avoidable and unacceptable. The Biden administration must take immediate action to ensure this does not become a long-term trend. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. 

NWA 18th fastest growing U.S. metro; Benton County leads state’s growth

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

Northwest Arkansas, or the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro, remained the fastest-growing metro in the state in 2023. Benton County was the state’s fastest-growing county.

On Thursday (March 14), the U.S. Census Bureau released metro area and county population estimates as of July 1, 2023.

Alison Wright, data center division head of the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI), said the metro estimates were expected with the continued growth in Northwest Arkansas. The metro was the 18th fastest-growing in the United States. Its population rose by 2.3% to 590,337 in 2023 from 576,967 in 2022. The growth rate rank was up from 24th in the previous year. Northwest Arkansas had the 32nd largest population gain in the nation at 13,370. The rank was down from 30th in the previous year.

NWA 18th fastest growing U.S. metro; Benton County leads state’s growth

Chairman of CIA Subcommittee, Rep. Crawford, comments on passage of TikTok Bill

Washington — Today, Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

“The extent to which the Chinese government and the Chinese Community Party (CCP) will go to expand its malign influence within the United States is a grave threat that I’m tracking closely as chairman of the Intel Committee’s CIA Subcommittee.

“From storing Americans’ biometrics when they use TikTok filters, to accessing financial data and location information, and more, the amount of personal data the CCP has on Americans is alarming, and it is a national security threat. What’s more, allowing a Chinese owned app to maliciously operate within our borders is a gateway for foreign espionage and malicious impacts that can be weaponized at a moment’s notice.

“It is the duty of Congress to ensure that Americans are protected by the appropriate regulatory laws against foreign adversaries, like the CCP. Americans go to great lengths to protect themselves from identity theft and to protect their personal information. By ensuring that TikTok cannot be owned by any company affiliated with the CCP, H.R. 7521 will protect the sensitive data and facial biometrics that the CCP is currently collecting.”