WASHINGTON - Arkansans visiting during spring break kept many congressional offices busy last week.
Republican U.S. Rep.
Rick Crawford’s Chief of Staff Jonah Shumate said more than 20 families visited, and office employees gave 14 tours of the Capitol.
“Spring break week [was the] busiest we’ve had since we’ve been up here,” Shumate said.
U.S. Sen. John Boozman’s staff members led tours for over 20 Arkansas families.
“That’s a lot for one week, but pretty much the norm for spring break. It’s always a busy time of the year,” Boozman spokesman Patrick Creamer said.
Boozman, a Republican, even stayed late Monday night to lead a group from Monticello that included Mayor Allen Maxwell, Drew County Judge Robert Akin and Jack Lassiter, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Creamer said.
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack had at least 14 families visit this week from towns including Bentonville, Siloam Springs, Russellville, Rogers and Harrison, his spokesman Claire Burghoff said.
She said Womack, a Republican, makes an effort to take constituents’ children under age 12 to the House floor to push the button casting his votes.
Monday, U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton both met with Monticello Twenty for the Future to talk about how to create jobs and economic development in Drew County, their staff members said. Pryor, a Democrat, and Cotton, a Republican, are running against each other for the U.S. Senate seat that Pryor holds.
Pryor spokesman Lucy Speed said more than 35 Arkansas families visited the senator. Cotton spokesman Caroline Rabbitt said more than 25 families visited the congressman.
On Wednesday, Rep.
Tim Griffin gave Barry Ford, his wife, Laura Ford, and their children Matthew, Elizabeth and Katherine, all of Little Rock, a tour of the U.S. Capitol.
Griffin, a Republican, also introduced them to House Speaker John Boehner, Griffin spokesman Matt Wolking said.
Migratory birds
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission met Wednesday and approved $61.3 million for improvements to more than 205,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The funding includes the expansion of five national wildlife refuges in Texas, California and Louisiana.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission reauthorizes land and water purchases or rentals recommended by the Department of the Interior. It also considers the establishment of new waterfowl refuges. Pryor is one of two senators on the commission.
Scholarship contests
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is accepting entries for its Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen scholarship competitions.
This year’s Voice of Democracy contest asks students to explain “Why Veterans are Important to our Nation’s History and Future.” The Voice of Democracy scholarship competition is an audio-essay competition open to students in grades 9-12. The national winner receives a $30,000 scholarship.
The Patriot’s Pen competition is open to students in grades 6-8.
Students are asked to submit an essay on “Why I Appreciate America’s Veterans.” The winner will receive a $5,000 award.
Students submit entries to participating VFW posts in their area. The deadline for both contests is Nov. 1.
More information is available at http://www.
vfw.org/Community/Programs/
Gop candidates ranked
On Wednesday the National Republican Congressional Committee announced that 2nd Congressional District candidate French Hill of Little Rock has been elevated to ‘Contender’ status in the ‘Young Guns’ program, the second of three tiers, according to a news release.
Candidates advance by meeting goals such as raising a certain amount of money or hiring a certain number of staff members. The criteria are different for each district.
The Committee also named 2nd Congressional District candidate Ann Clemmer of Benton to ‘On the Radar’ status in the program, which is the first tier. The final tier is ‘Young Gun’ and goes to those considered the strongest candidates.
Rural phone rates
Pryor submitted a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler on Wednesday, in which he objects to a proposal that could increase the cost of basic telephone service in rural areas by nearly 40 percent.
The FCC is considering raising the lowest possible monthly rate service providers can charge from $14 to more than $20 on July 1. Providers offering service at rates below the minimum risk losing access to government support under the Universal Service Fund if they do not immediately raise the telephone rates of their customers.
In the letter, Pryor states that the change is happening abruptly and that any modification should be phased in.
Endangered mussels
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks public comment on its review of 25 endangered and eight threatened species in the Southeast and Puerto Rico. The review occurs every five years to determine if the species have recovered enough to be taken off the list or have their status upgraded.
Included in that list is the speckled pocketbook mussel, which is found in the Little Red River watershed in Arkansas.
The mussel was first listed as endangered in 1989. It is found in coarse to muddy sand in shallow, flowing water.
The deadline to submit comments is May 27.
Comments can be sent to Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 110 S. Amity Road, Suite 300, Conway, Ark., 72032 or faxed to (501) 513-4480.
Planning to visit the nation’s capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact us at (202) 662-7690 or [email protected]
Front Section, Pages 4 on 03/30/2014