Washington news in brief

Townsend Wolfe
Townsend Wolfe

Engineering deans, Westerman confer

WASHINGTON -- Four engineering school officials from across the Natural State gathered in the nation's capital last week to meet with their counterparts from across the country and to speak with members of the Arkansas congressional delegation.

They urged lawmakers to support funding for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, also known as STEM.

The Arkansans and other members of the American Society for Engineering Education were welcomed by U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Hot Springs who is one of the dozen or so engineers now serving in Congress.

"This may be the most sanity ever assembled in one room in these halls up here," Westerman said as he looked at a roomful of engineering deans.

Speaking about the infrastructure and energy challenges facing the U.S., Westerman said it's important for the nation to support engineering education.

"There's very smart people in this world, and they need facilities to do research and they need funding to do research because at the end of the day, we all benefit from that," Westerman said.

University of Arkansas College of Engineering Dean John English, University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Engineering Dean Lawrence Whitman, Arkansas State University College of Engineering Associate Dean Paul Mixon and Arkansas Technical University College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Neal Barlow were on hand for the conference.

This is the first time that all four engineering educators have traveled to Washington together to meet with lawmakers.

"We're proud to be here working together representing Arkansas," Mixon said as he walked on Capitol Hill with his colleagues.

Hill lauds Womack,

Arts Center's Wolfe

U.S. Rep. French Hill gave two speeches on the House floor last week. In one, he congratulated U.S. Rep. Steve Womack of Rogers for receiving the Department of the Army Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service. In the other, the Republican from Little Rock paid tribute to Townsend Wolfe, the former Arkansas Arts Center director who died last month at age 81.

Hill described fellow Republican Womack as "a true Arkansas leader."

He called Wolfe "the ultimate Southern gentleman and truly a cultural visionary." During Wolfe's 34 years as director and chief curator, the Arts Center experienced "unparalleled growth in number of annual visitors and in its exceptional collection," Hill said.

Also last week, Hill attended the annual fly-in dinner organized by the Conway Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he awarded his February Golden Fleece Award to the Department of Veterans Affairs, citing flaws in its recruiting, relocation and retention incentive programs. Citing a VA inspector general's report, he said the VA failed to enforce repayment provisions on those who failed to meet their goals, costing taxpayers $784,000 in fiscal 2014.

Womack placed on

democracy panel

House Speaker Paul Ryan appointed U.S. Rep. Steve Womack last week to serve on the House Democracy Partnership.

The partnership works "to promote responsive, effective government and strengthen democratic institutions by assisting legislatures in emerging democracies," its website states.

The countries that participate in the partnership are Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Georgia, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Macedonia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, and Ukraine.

Spa City brewery a

reception honoree

America's Small Business Development Centers held a reception on Capitol Hill on Monday, showing off a few of its top clients. Known as America's SBDC Client Showcase and Reception, the event highlighted the work of 14 small businesses, including Superior Bathhouse Brewery in Hot Springs. Since opening in July 2013, it is "the only brewery located inside a national park," the organization said, adding that "the thermal waters that made the area famous are a key ingredient in Superior's brewing process."

The other businesses ranged from a motorcycle manufacturer in Alabama to a body armor producer in Texas.

Superior Bathhouse Brewery was selected to participate in the event after being recommended by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.

Cotton: 18 days in,

America still here

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton spoke at the American Enterprise Institute on Monday, noting that the sky hasn't fallen since Jan. 20.

"Some people, especially in the media and the Democratic Party, are astonished that we're 18 days into the [President Donald] Trump administration, yet the federal government is still functioning. World War III hasn't broken out. America is still standing. Perhaps our Constitution is more resilient than some believe, our people built of sturdier stuff than sugar candy, to borrow from [Winston] Churchill. So resilient and sturdy, in fact, that our system can withstand the shock of a Republican presidency -- even if the media can't," he said.

The Republican from Dardanelle also defended Trump's "America First" motto, arguing that the president is promoting a "healthy nationalism."

Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Please contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or flockwood@arkansasonline.com. Want the latest from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Washington bureau? It's available on Twitter, @LockwoodFrank.

SundayMonday on 02/12/2017

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