Boozman will take constituents' calls
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. John Boozman is inviting Arkansans to join him for a tele-town hall this week.
Hundreds of people have signed up for the hourlong conference call, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
But there's room for plenty more, his office said.
Anyone wishing to participate can register at boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/signup-for-telephone-townhalls
Those who submit their information will get a phone call shortly before the event begins.
"Telephone town halls allow me to connect with Arkansans all over the state and discuss topics important to them. I look forward to the conversation," Boozman said in a news release.
The Republican from Rogers will answer questions from callers.
The size of the audience likely will fluctuate throughout the hour, according to Boozman spokesman Patrick Creamer.
"Some people hang around for 10 or 15 minutes. Other people hang around the whole time," he added.
On Womack stops, nuts, bolts, ATVs
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack made several stops in his district Friday. He scheduled a 10 a.m. tour of Volt Industrial Plastics in Yellville, followed by a lunchtime meeting with Marion County officials at Blacksheep Joe's BBQ Smokehouse and Grill.
From Yellville, the Rogers Republican traveled to Boat World in Harrison.
People looking for American-made nuts, screws, spacers, washers and other items have been turning to Volt for more than two decades, its website notes.
Blacksheep Joe's, on the other hand, is "a classic [barbecue] and burger joint that specializes in southern comfort food, featuring real wood fired pit [barbecue] and the burgers made to order," according to its Facebook page.
Despite its name, Boat World sells motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides, but no watercraft. "We got out of the boat business in 2008," explains Sandy Stroope, the business's owner since 1989.
Demand for ATVs remains high, especially among farmers, Stroope said. "Very few of them ride a horse anymore," he explained.
Womack is pro-business and is always welcome at Boat World, Stroope explained.
"We're all pretty conservative in my little store here and we all support pretty conservative candidates and Steve's a pretty conservative guy," he said.
Westerman tours islands in Pacific
U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman and other members of the House Natural Resources Committee spent the weeklong Washington's Birthday recess traveling around the Pacific region. Westerman is a Republican from Hot Springs.
The congressional delegation left Feb. 17 to visit American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Hawaii. The trip is scheduled to wrap up today.
In a written statement, committee officials said military matters would be high on the agenda.
"[T]he delegation will be meeting with various Department of Defense [entities] on issues that relate to the official jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources. These issues include assessing the environmental impact to vital strategic platforms located in the US Pacific Command area of operations; to include renewable and sustainable energy programs; and ecological and aquaculture that impact matters of national security," it said.
Banking rules topic for Hill at gathering
U.S. Rep. French Hill appeared on a panel Friday afternoon at the Conservative Political Action Conference just outside Washington, D.C.
The Republican from Little Rock, a former banker who serves on the House Financial Services Committee, discussed regulatory restrictions placed on financial institutions in recent years.
The title of the session was "Repealing Obama's Banking Monstrosity and Making Money Work Again: Making Money Great Again."
Tom Hoenig, vice chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Colo., also were scheduled to appear with Hill.
Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, Hill's predecessor in the 2nd Congressional District, spoke Thursday. His topic: "Breaking out of Regulatory Prison."
Several College Republicans also were on hand for the annual conference, which featured speeches by prominent members of the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump.
Internships offered for Womack offices
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack is offering internships for "hard-working college students and recent graduates," his office announced earlier this month.
Some of the successful applicants will work in the nation's capital. The rest will be based in Northwest Arkansas.
The deadline to apply is March 17.
Womack utilizes two groups of summer interns. Although the dates are flexible, most of them work May 22-June 30 or July 5-Aug. 11.
Additional information and applications are available at womack.house.gov/constituentservices/internships.htm
"A congressional internship is a rewarding experience, and both Washington, D.C. and district office interns will work closely with Congressman Womack's staff and constituents while learning the inner workings of the United States Congress and about issues affecting Arkansans," Womack's office said in a news release. "Those interested in political science, government, public policy, business, and social work are encouraged to apply."
In addition to his Capitol Hill office, Womack has district offices in Fort Smith, Harrison and Rogers.
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 02/26/2017