In the News

Seven members of Congress have signed a letter offering their support for a petition submitted to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration urging the agency to allow hair testing rather than a urinalysis to meet federal drug testing requirements for commercial truck driver applicants. Signing the letter were Rick Crawford; R-Jonesboro, Ark.; Don Bacon, R-Neb.; Bruce Westerman, R-Ark.; Martha McSally, R-Ariz.; Steve Womack, R-Ark.; French Hill, R-Ark., and Ted Budd, R-N.C. “If granted,” th... Read more

Emergency officials finished preparations for rising waters along the White River by evacuating more residents and placing sandbags around businesses, and residents in Pocahontas for the first time Sunday were able to see damage done to their homes by the flooded Black River. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who took office in April, flew over the flooding in northeast Arkansas, saying at a Sunday afternoon news conference in an aircraft hangar in Little Rock that he was committed to exp... Read more

HINDSVILLE, Ark. (AP) — The Latest on Severe Weather-Arkansas (all times local): 5 p.m. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Sen. John Boozman and Reps. Rick Crawford and French Hill in a helicopter tour of flooded northeast Arkansas to view what Crawford called a terrible situation. Storms that began April 26 led to what Hutchinson said Sunday were nine deaths and an estimated $21 million in damage, not including damage to agriculture. Perdue said at a... Read more

Members of the Arkansas Community Bankers Association say they're swamped with federal regulations put in place following the 2008 financial meltdown. Stopping by Capitol Hill this week, they urged lawmakers to roll back some of the rules that were included in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The law has created an unreasonable and unnecessary burden for smaller banks, they said. "We have to set up a committee just to deal with the regulations," said Arkansas County... Read more

House Republicans voted Thursday to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, overcoming united Democratic opposition and their own divisions, and claiming a major victory even as the measure faces an uncertain fate in the divided U.S. Senate. Read more

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Many are still mourning the death of former Arkansas Congressman Jay Dickey, a Republican from Pine Bluff who died April 20. He was 77 years old. Among those remembering his life -- members of the Arkansas delegation, as well as fellow political leaders from across the nation. They gathered for a moment of silence Wednesday in honor of Dickey. Arkansas Congressman French Hill joined Congressman Bruce Westerman and the rest of the delegation in remembering Dickey during the mo... Read more

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas' four U.S. House members have voted for Republican legislation to repeal and replace major parts of the federal health care law. Republican Reps. Rick Crawford, French Hill, Bruce Westerman and Steve Womack on Thursday voted for the legislation that addresses their longtime pledge to erase the 2010 Obama health care law. The bill passed on a mostly party line 217-213 vote and now heads to the Senate. The bill passed a day after Arkansas lawmakers gave final appr... Read more

Good Thursday morning. BULLETIN at 5:05 a.m.: “LONDON (AP) - Buckingham Palace says Prince Philip will no longer carry out engagements starting this fall.” THINGS ARE FINALLY LOOKING GOOD FOR THE GOP HEALTH CARE BILL. They’ve announced a vote, and most of the time, that’s a good sign for the majority. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters yesterday that they “have enough votes” to pass the American Health Care Act, along with an $8-billion boost for high-risk pools, secured by Reps... Read more

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford has informed House Republican leaders and the White House that he is comfortable with the health care legislation they've been touting. "Barring any further changes that I am not aware of, I would expect to vote 'yes' on it if it comes to floor this week," he said. "There's a lot of good things in here." The Republican from Jonesboro opposed an earlier version of the American Health Care Act; he was the only House member from Arkansas to do so. He portrayed it as fiscally... Read more

Republicans muscled their health care bill through the House on Thursday, taking their biggest step toward dismantling former President Barack Obama's health care overhaul since Donald Trump took office. They won passage only after overcoming their own divisions that nearly sank the measure six weeks ago. Democrats insisted Republicans will pay at election time for repealing major provisions of the law. They sang the pop song "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" to the GOP lawmakers as the end of th... Read more