WASHINGTON NEWS IN BRIEF

Capitol Hill Arkansans take on the ice buckets

WASHINGTON -- Most members of Arkansas' congressional delegation have willingly had ice water poured over themselves to raise money to fight Lou Gehrig's disease.

The ice bucket challenge instructs people to either donate $100 to the ALS Association or have cold water poured on them, with the option to do both. They then have to challenge others to participate. The videos of people being doused with ice water have spread across social media, with movie stars, musicians and even former President George W. Bush taking part.

The campaigns of U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and U.S. Reps. Tom Cotton, Tim Griffin and Steve Womack have each posted a YouTube video showing the legislators talking about the disease, formally known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and then taking an icy shower.

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford's staff said he also did the challenge but did not post a video online. U.S. Sen. John Boozman's staff members weren't sure whether anyone had challenged the senator, who is not up for election this year and recently had heart surgery, to participate.

In Pryor's video he challenges his father, former U.S. Sen. David Pryor, to the ice bath after his dad pours water over him, but the senior Pryor quickly offers up a $100 check. Griffin pours the water over his own head and Cotton gets doused by his wife, Anna. In a four-minute video, Womack talks with the leaders of Arkansas' ALS chapter and offers up a check before having water poured over his head without warning.

All four personally contributed to the charity, their spokesmen said. Pryor has offered to contribute an additional $5 for every 100 people who like the video on Facebook.

Since participating became popular, the House Administration Committee has warned representatives that the House rules manual prohibits the use of "official resources for the promotion or benefit of any private charitable cause."

Members of Arkansas' delegation have promoted their videos through their campaigns.

PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS

Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will appear together in Washington Sept. 8 to announce the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program, a partnership among the presidential centers of Bush, Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

According to a news release, the program will involve learning about leadership styles and decision making from administration officials, academics and others.

ARKANSAS AT BOOK FAIR

Thirty-one books written by Arkansas authors or about the Natural State were scheduled to be highlighted Saturday along with authors from other states at the Library of Congress' National Book Festival.

The books include Senator Hattie Caraway: An Arkansas Legacy by Nancy Hendricks, Classic Eateries of the Ozarks and Arkansas River Valley by Kat Robinson and Daughter of the White River by Denise White Parkinson.

Arkansas State Library sent Cathy Howser, coordinator of children's and institutional programs, and Zoe Butler, coordinator of Arkansas Center for the Book, to Washington to help pass out posters and bookmarks about the Arkansas literature in the Pavilion of the States. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories had booths.

CAMPAIGN STOPS

Former President Bill Clinton visited Maine on Tuesday to campaign for Democratic candidate for governor Mike Michaud, Reuters reported. The race is seen by some as one of the closest gubernatorial races of 2014.

Clinton is scheduled to hold a fundraiser in New Haven, Conn., Tuesday to raise money for the state Democratic Party and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, the New Haven Register reported.

Cotton, Pryor and Crawford were scheduled to hold tailgate cookouts Saturday at Arkansas State University before the Red Wolves took on Montana State.

Cotton spoke at the Northeast Arkansas Political Animals Club meeting Friday. On Monday, he is scheduled to participate in the Rector Labor Day parade and campaign at the Greene County Fair.

IN THE DISTRICT

On Monday, Griffin spoke about Environmental Protection Agency regulations and Little Rock Air Force Base at a lunch in Little Rock hosted by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. He also spoke with the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas.

On Thursday, Griffin participated in the United Parcel Service Founders' Day event in Little Rock.

On Monday Pryor met with members of the State Chamber of Commerce in Little Rock. On Friday, he is scheduled to speak at the opening of the new Conway airport.

Cotton's staff is scheduled to hold several events to address veteran's questions.

On Thursday, they will be at the Miller County Courthouse, 400 Laurel St. in Texarkana at 9:30 a.m.; at the Lafayette County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square in Lewisville at 12:30 p.m.; and at the Stamps City Hall, 207 E. Antigo St. in Stamps at 2:30 p.m.

On Sept. 9, they will be at the First Missionary Baptist Church, 4500 Faucett Road in Pine Bluff at 9 a.m.; and at the Sheridan Recreation Center, 1511 S. Rose St. in Sheridan at 3 p.m.

On Thursday Womack's office is scheduled to be inside the caboose at the Yellville Chamber of Commerce, 414 W. 3rd St., at 11 a.m. Womack is also scheduled to tour several businesses, high schools and colleges in the district this week.

MATERNITY LEAVE

Pryor deputy press secretary Olivia Dedner is on maternity leave after the birth of her third child, Anna Rose, Thursday. Dedner, a Fort Smith native, works in the Washington office.

Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact us at (202) 662-7690 or [email protected].

SundayMonday on 08/31/2014

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