Jarrod Yates, Executive Vice President | Arkansas Farm Bureau
Front Porch | Issue 134
When Arkansas, through its elected congressional delegation, speaks in the 119th Congress, others will no doubt be listening. Arkansas Farm Bureau, as an agricultural advocacy organization keenly connected to political impacts, is excited for what this means for our country, and all Arkansans should be as well.
While our congressional representation is small, all six members of the state’s congressional delegation will serve as chairs of major committees or subcommittees. This brings an unprecedented level of influence from those elected to represent our wonderful, small state.
For context, California has 55 members in its delegation, and Texas has 38. New York and Florida each have 29.
Having spent considerable time as a congressional staffer in Washington, D.C., I know the immense impact the chairs have on the work of those committees.
Sen. John Boozman will lead the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, just the second Arkansan to have that authority. Having Boozman in that role while a farm bill is being constructed will bring a deep agricultural perspective to this important piece of legislation, which funds federal feeding programs, commodity support, rural development, foreign trade, conservation and agricultural research. Boozman is a steady voice, highly trusted by congressional colleagues, that will be helpful for such an important committee assignment. Boozman also sits on the Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Environment and Public Works, Committee on Rules and Administration and Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Sen. Tom Cotton will serve as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, while Rep. Rick Crawford will serve as chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence. With unsettling conflict around the world, the significance of these roles can’t be overlooked. These new assignments place them among the Gang of Eight, a set of leaders within the U.S. Congress who are briefed on classified intelligence matters by the executive branch. With these new leadership roles for Cotton and Crawford, Arkansans make up 25 percent of the Gang of Eight.
Cotton is also Senate GOP conference chair and ranks No. 3 in the party’s leadership. Additionally, he serves on the Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Joint Economic Committee.
In addition to his role on the House Select Committee on Intelligence, Crawford serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Agriculture, which will be critical for Arkansas agriculture as we work to pass a new and updated farm bill.
Rep. Bruce Westerman, a former state FFA president, remains in his role as chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources. The panel covers issues such as forestry, fisheries and wildlife, interstate compacts, water supply, interior and Native American affairs, federal parklands, mineral and mining resources, and oil and pipeline projects. Important issues will be considered by this committee and having someone with Westerman’s insight as an engineer and forester should give each of us confidence.
Rep. French Hill has been selected to lead the House Financial Services Committee, a committee that has broad jurisdiction over the nation’s banking system, credit cards, interest rates and cryptocurrency. A banker by trade, Hill brings experience to the everyday impacts of commerce.
Rep. Steve Womack serves on the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, where he is the chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee. Womack also sits on the Defense and Financial Services and General Government subcommittees. He also serves on the West Point Board of Visitors and was elected as the board’s chairman in 2017.
The roles filled by members of the Arkansas delegation mean Arkansas is punching well above its weight in terms of political influence in Washington. Godspeed, gentlemen.