News

Little Rock – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, as part of a 20-state coalition, filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court of the United States to defend the First Amendment rights of business owners. In 303 Creative v. Elenis, the coalition argues that states cannot use public accommodations laws to compel small business owners to speak against their deeply held religious beliefs.

Washington, DC - Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the below statement after House Democrats once again failed to produce a budget for Fiscal Year 2023. Instead, they are purposely diverting from proper budget and appropriations processes to allow them to continue their out-of-control spending habits without debate or accountability. The American people haven’t seen a legitimate budget produced in the House since Womack was Chairman of the Budget Committee:

The American Legion Post #61 of Yellville held its monthly meeting June 9, 2022. Meeting was called to order by Commander; Dustin Beals at 18:00 hrs.

Womack (AR-3) this week helped introduce the STOP II, Secure Every School, and Protect our Nation’s Children Act. The legislation builds on the STOP School Violence Act signed into law in 2018 to fund $1 billion for school resource officers, $1 billion for mental health guidance counselors, and $5 billion for hardening schools, active shooter training, and training for law enforcement, school officials, and students to intervene before a student reaches a breaking point. The $7 billion legislation is paid for with already approved, yet unused COVID-19 funds.

This week, officials from the Arkansas Center for School Safety (ACSS) provided members of the House and Senate Education Committees with an update on school safety measures taken in recent years. In 2018, the Governor created the Safe Schools Commission to assess the state of school security in Arkansas.

Little Rock – The Buffalo National River celebrates its 50th anniversary as part of the National Park Service this year. This summer, the Arkansas State Capitol’s first and fourthfloor galleries will feature “The River Remains: 50 Years on the Buffalo National River,” a celebration of the Buffalo River and its distinction of being a “national river”—the first of its kind in the national park system. The exhibit will be opened to the public beginning June 13th.

LITTLE ROCK – The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was especially hard for childcare centers, so the Arkansas Department of Human Services is administering about $286 million to help them cover expenses and remain in business.

Hundreds of high school students explored the halls of the Arkansas Capitol last week during the annual exercise in government known as Girls State and Boys State. The week-long programs, which are sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, offer rising seniors the chance to form a government, run for office, and write and vote on legislation.