Cotton back in U.S. after week in Asia
Arkansas’ U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton returned Tuesday from a weeklong trip to Asia. Along with several other lawmakers, he traveled to Burma and Thailand to meet government leaders in both nations. He also visited troops during a stop in Japan.
The new year arrived while he was in Rangoon, the capital of Burma. Midnight struck there while it was still daylight in Arkansas.
Four senators and five representatives made the journey.
Cotton, who led the delegation, said the trip was important.
The “two critical countries” are located “in the land where China and India collide,” the Republican from Dardanelle said Thursday.
But they’ve taken sharply different paths in recent years, he said.
“Burma has just undergone a remarkable transition from brutal military dictatorship to free elections, and I wanted to lead a delegation there to Burma to show American support for the transition they’ve made because liberal democracies aren’t our only allies. They’re our best allies, though, and we want to encourage that ongoing transition in Burma to a peaceful democratic country that is aligned with the United States,” Cotton said.
“Bangkok had an unfortunate transition a year ago from democratic rule to military rule, but they are our longest-standing ally in the region. We wanted to both send a message that we continue to value that relationship and it’s an important part of our security alliance in the region while at the same time encourage their work in drafting and ultimately returning to a democratic constitution with elected civilian government.”
4 teens singled out for U.S. academies
First District U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford on Tuesday announced the names of the four students he is nominating to attend the nation’s service academies.
The Republican from Jonesboro said he is recommending: Kate Junkersfeld, Pocahontas High School, daughter of Jeff and Leah Evers, U.S. Air Force Academy; Seth Wagoner, Hoxie High School, son of Chris and Barbara Wagoner, U.S. Military Academy; Sean Jernigan, Crowley’s Ridge Academy, son of Edward and Carrie Jernigan, both the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Military Academy; Max Guerriero, of Jonesboro (Laurel Spring School), son of Michael and Hilairy Guerriero, U.S. Naval Academy.
Crawford, who served as an Army explosive ordnance disposal technician, said all four students are impressive.
“I’m extremely proud of the depth of character and discipline exhibited by these young people from our 1st District of Arkansas,” he said. “Our nation’s service academies are looking for the best and brightest of the rising generations to serve, and I know that the 1st District will be well-represented by Kate, Seth, Sean, and Max. Congratulations to you all.”
Westerman alleges trade by 7 is unfair
Fourth District U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman on Thursday denounced what he says are unfair trade practices. He appeared before the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C.
He told off icials that dumping by seven foreign nations has harmed U.S. companies, including the Domtar Paper Co., owner of a pulp and paper mill in Ashdown.
When foreign nations unfairly subsidize businesses, enabling them to export products and sell them at artificially low prices, then there’s no longer a fair playing field, Westerman said.
The Republican from Hot Springs said one of the Ashdown plant’s machines used to make paper. Facing unfair trade practices, the company was forced to switch that machine to manufacturing less lucrative “fluff pulp” — material that will eventually find its way into diapers for babies and disposable undergarments for adults.
The change resulted in the loss of 100 jobs, Westerman said.
“I credit Domtar for doing what they have done to lessen this impact, but this is little consolation to the sandwich shop owner or the transmission shop owner who has seen customers disappear,” Westerman said.
“The issue of unfair international trade is not just impacting Domtar. … The 4th Congressional District has lost paper production at several sites over the recent past. Allowing foreign producers to have unrestricted access to the open markets of the United States, while some of these producers are knowingly defrauding us by dumping undervalued products, is inexcusable,” he said.
The International Trade Commission is “an independent, quasijudicial federal agency with broad investigative responsibilities on matters of trade,” according to its website. “The agency investigates the effects of dumped and subsidized imports on domestic industries and conducts global safeguard investigations.”
It provides its analysis to the president and members of Congress, who set U.S. trade policies or challenge trading practices in other forums.
Teacher of year
gets U.S. tribute
U.S. Sen. John Boozman stopped at Stuttgart High School on Friday to visit with Arkansas Teacher of the Year Meghan Ables. The Republican senator from Rogers wanted to hand-deliver a tribute to Ables that appeared in the Dec. 15 edition of the Congressional Record. That’s the “official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress,” and it is published by the U.S. Government Publishing House.
Boozman submitted the statement of praise and had it published.
A spokesman said a copy of the statement, printed on gold-bordered parchment paper, with a golden governmental seal attached, was placed in a blue U.S. Senate folder and given to Ables.
The written tribute describes Ables as “an outstanding Arkansas educator,” adding, “In nearly 13 years of teaching, Meghan’s work in the classroom has made a difference in the lives of students in the Stuttgart School District.”
The tribute highlights some of the English and journalism teacher’s undertakings, and praises her “determination, devotion and commitment to her students and to education.”
Planning to visit the nation’s capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or flockwood@arkansasonline.com.