Cotton in Singapore for security forum
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas traveled to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, also known as the 15th Asia Security Summit.
He was one of five Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the journey. Two Republican members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee also made the trip.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and other leaders spoke. Sponsors included major defense contractors such as Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
Among the topics were "Containing the North Korea threat," "Enhancing cooperation against jihadi terrorism in Asia," and "The security challenges of irregular migration."
The group also planned to meet with government officials in Taiwan and Japan and visit U.S. defense installations in Hawaii.
Womack schedules Dover 'office stop'
Arkansas' 3rd District U.S. Rep. Steve Womack has scheduled a "mobile office stop" in Dover to be held in City Hall at 8904 Market St. from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday.
"I have offices located in Rogers, Fort Smith, and Harrison. But I understand that many constituents aren't able -- or don't have the time -- to travel to the nearest office. That's why I am sending my office to YOU!" Womack tweeted.
Staff members of the Republican from Rogers will be on hand to offer assistance to constituents, he said.
Maine park debate draws Westerman
Fourth District U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas attended a field hearing in East Millinocket, Maine, last week, where residents debated the merits of creating a new national park.
Business leader Roxanne Quimby has offered to donate more than 70,000 acres to the federal government, but many city residents want the federal government to stay out of the area.
They fear that federal land ownership will lead to increased government regulations that will threaten the forest industry.
Quimby is the co-founder of Burt's Bees, the maker of candles, lip balms and lotions.
Westerman, a Republican from Hot Springs, is the only member of Congress with a graduate degree in forestry, and he serves on the House Natural Resources Committee.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, had asked the committee to hold a hearing on the issue.
Crawford talks at, attends ASU events
First District U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford spoke at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro on Wednesday, attending an Education Renewal Zone Advisory Council meeting.
On Thursday, the Republican from Jonesboro joined Gov. Asa Hutchinson and others for the rededication of Wilson Hall.
The 84-year-old building on the ASU campus underwent a $12.6 million renovation.
Crawford and his wife, Stacy, are both ASU graduates.
On Friday, Crawford had stops scheduled in West Memphis and Jackson County.
Workforce training focus of Hill tours
During the Memorial Day break, Arkansas' 2nd District U.S. Rep. French Hill and U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich. visited central Arkansas workforce training sites. Lawrence is the founder of Congress' Skilled Workforce Caucus, and Hill is the organization's co-chairman.
The two lawmakers stopped by the John Deere Agriculture Technology program at Arkansas State University-Beebe. They also learned about workforce-training initiatives at Maverick Transportation and Dassault Falcon Jet.
Hilla, a Republican from Little Rock, made a similar trip to Detroit in October, learning about workforce opportunities in Lawrence's community.
"In central Arkansas, and in a lot of places throughout the country, we desperately want job growth," Hill said in a news release. "As a legislator I am always thinking about policy areas to help spur economic growth, but the work of our caucus provides another avenue for making a difference."
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Please contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or [email protected]. Want the latest from the Democrat-Gazette's Washington bureau? It's available on Twitter @LockwoodFrank.
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