Washington news in brief
Cotton a speaker at Iowa fundraiser
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas headed for western Iowa to speak at Friday’s Lincoln Reagan Dinner in Pottawattamie County.
The party chairman there, Jeff Jorgensen, said the event is a fundraiser for Republicans in the Council Bluffs area, not far from Omaha, Neb.
People were excited to hear from the Dardanelle Republican, Jorgensen said.
“The last speaker that we had back in May of 2015 was Mr. Donald Trump,” Jorgensen said Friday. “Sen. Cotton is certainly following a pretty good performance there.”
More than 125 people RSVP’d for the event, Jorgensen said, drawn by the opportunity to hear Cotton and Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, next in line to run the state once Gov. Terry Branstad is confirmed as ambassador to China.
They paid $55 or more to attend.
It didn’t hurt that the food was coming from Boxer Barbeque Catering Co.
Its award-winning pulled pork, brisket, baked beans and potato salad were sure to be crowd pleasers, Jorgensen said, adding, “They do a fantastic job.”
Cotton has made several trips to the Hawkeye State, home of the Iowa caucuses, since his election to the U.S. Senate in 2014. Earlier this month, he addressed roughly 200 Iowans who had traveled to the nation’s capital for the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s 38th annual Washington fly-in.
Internet access a conference issue
Several Arkansans went to Capitol Hill last week to participate in the Economic Equality Caucus Conference.
Speakers Wednesday included U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford of Jonesboro; Randy Henderson, an inventory coordinator with Nucor Castrip Arkansas LLC; state Rep. Warwick Sabin, a Democrat from Little Rock who is Winrock International’s senior director of U.S. programs; and the caucus’s co-chairman, Lee Powell, originally from Little Rock.
Thursday’s speakers included Jensyn Hallett of Heifer International; Patty Barker of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance; and U.S. Sen. John Boozman of Rogers.
During his remarks, Crawford addressed a number of points, including the importance of providing broadband Internet access throughout the country.
In order for schools to thrive and businesses to prosper, high-speed Internet access is vital, he said, adding, “It’s certainly a game changer. It’s an equalizer for rural communities.”
Boozman portrayed Internet access as a key infrastructure component. “If you don’t have broadband, if you’re not connected, businesses simply can’t function,” he said.
The lawmaker predicted that Congress will pass legislation addressing the nation’s aging infrastructure. “The good news about infrastructure is, it’s not a partisan issue. There’s tremendous support on both sides,” he added.
Boozman attends Air Force events
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, who serves as co-chairman of the Senate Air Force Caucus, attended the swearing in Tuesday of Heather Wilson, the 24th secretary of the U.S. Air Force.
Wilson, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, represented New Mexico in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1998 to 2009; Boozman represented Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District from 2001-11.
Also last week, Boozman attended a ceremony at the Air Force Memorial marking the military branch’s 70th birthday.
On Friday, Boozman visited the National Targeting Center-Passenger, a government entity created by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It works to detect passengers who may pose security threats. Boozman later traveled to Dulles International Airport, roughly 25 miles west of Washington, D.C., where he was briefed on — among other things — the Tactical Terrorism Response Team.
Boozman serves as chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.
Realtors lobby on homeowner issues
Dozens of members of the Arkansas Realtors Association traveled to Washington last week. The visit coincided with the National Association of Realtors’ legislative meeting, which ended Saturday.
During a visit to Capitol Hill, real estate agents from across the state met with members of the delegation: U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton, and U.S. Reps. Bruce Westerman and Steve Womack.
It was a productive visit, according to Ronald B. Stinchcomb, a real estate agent from Fayetteville.
“It went very well. … They were very gracious to give us their time and good conversation and good information,” he said.
Stinchcomb said lawmakers were encouraged to protect the mortgage interest tax deduction, to continue the National Flood Insurance Program and to promote tax policies that are favorable to homeownership.
The real estate agents weren’t merely defending their industry. They had a broader agenda, he said.
“We’re lobbying for 75 million homeowners across the country,” he said.
Cotton keeps title as fastest senator
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton retained his title as the nation’s fastest U.S. senator, completing the ACLI Capital Challenge, a 5-kilometer race, in 18 minutes and 44 seconds. The lawmaker, who turned 40 earlier this month, finished 8 seconds behind 33-year-old U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis.
In the group competition, the five-member Team Cotton took top honors on the Senate side.
Cotton, who was first elected to Congress in 2012, won the House competition in 2013 and 2014 and the Senate contest in 2015 and 2016.
Former U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., set the Senate record in 1981, finishing in 18:15. Former U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., completed the course in 16:59, setting the House record in 1995.
The 3.1-mile race is sponsored by the insurance industry and raises money for the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation.