Gulf War memorial's
plan studied in D.C.
WASHINGTON -- Members of the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association appeared last week before one of the government agencies that must sign off on the project.
The design's backers want to build the memorial on land near 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue, a short distance from the Vietnam War Memorial.
At Thursday's meeting, members of the National Capital Planning Commission discussed the merits of that site as well as another plot of land closer to Arlington National Cemetery.
The commission decided to request further information and to continue studying both sites.
Also last week, the National Park Service held a hearing to accept public comment on the monument's placement.
This week, association members are to meet with members of the Commission of Fine Arts, according to the group's president, Scott Stump of Waynesville, N.C.
Members of the association, which is incorporated in Arkansas, won't have to wait too much longer, Stump said.
"They've told us that we should have clarification, a definitive answer ... by September," he said.
Crawford courts
Floridians on Cuba
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford wants to make it easier for farmers to do business in Cuba, but his legislation faces opposition from some members of the Florida congressional delegation.
On Thursday, the Republican from Jonesboro made his case directly to Floridians, speaking at a forum sponsored by Florida International University's Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy.
Crawford spoke from Washington, D.C., joining other panelists in Miami. The roughly 45-minute event was broadcast on Facebook Live.
The federal government doesn't allow farmers to extend credit to Cuban purchasers. Removing the restriction increases the likelihood that Cubans will buy Arkansas rice and give U.S. agriculture a boost, Crawford said.
Arkansas' 1st Congressional District, which Crawford represents, produces more rice than any other district in the United States.
Legislation allowing credit sales is popular among farmers and has substantial support on Capitol Hill, he said, noting similar efforts by his Republican colleague, U.S. Sen. John Boozman of Rogers.
"We're building support in the House, and we already know that the support is there in the Senate," he said. "We are actively working this issue as aggressively as we can."
Farm Bureau chief
gets input in D.C.
Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach was on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, visiting with lawmakers and hearing from members of the Trump administration.
While in town, he also attended a gathering of the American Farm Bureau Federation's Council of Presidents. State presidents heard from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, the organization said.
In a video posted Tuesday on the Arkansas Farm Bureau's Facebook page, Veach said his meetings with members of the Arkansas congressional delegation had been positive.
"They're very supportive of agriculture," he said. "They're out here working for us, and that makes a big difference for our farmers and ranchers in the state."
Topics included forestry, trade policy and the coming farm bill.
Veach, a Mississippi County resident, is a third-generation farmer.
Boozman meets not
a few Arkansans
A stream of Arkansans met in Washington last week with U.S. Sen. John Boozman, his office said.
Springdale School District Superintendent Jim Rollins stopped by Tuesday, as did members of the Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas National Guard.
On Wednesday, Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, visited with members of the Arkansas Soybean Association and a group of 4-H students from around the state.
On Thursday, Boozman flew back to Arkansas so he could attend Friday's Dine for Dementia Broyles Foundation Dinner in Fayetteville and visit the Agility Center in Bentonville, which among other things helps diagnose and treat people with job-related soft tissue injuries.
He also planned to attend a ceremony Saturday at Camp Robinson.
2 Arkansans attend
D.C. clean-air rally
Melissa Terry and Flint Richter of Fayetteville traveled to the nation's capital last week to attend a rally organized by Moms Clean Air Force.
The group, which lobbies for tougher environmental standards, held what it described as a "family friendly protest event" across the street from the Capitol on Thursday.
People from 40 states attended, Terry said, and the crowd included "families of all sizes and kinds and ethnic backgrounds. It's a really great mix of people, and I'm happy that my daughters are here and getting to see it and be a part of it," she said.
The midsummer rally wrapped up shortly before a heat advisory was to take effect.
Moms Clean Air Force is a "special project" of the Environmental Defense Fund, a New York City-based nonprofit organization.
Terry, a University of Arkansas graduate student, said she studies "climate change and greenhouse gas emission reduction policy."
Her husband is the founder of Richter Solar Energy.
Westerman's aide
Lovett gets new job
Friday was the last day on the job for Kasey Lovett, a staff and press assistant to U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman. She's moving to the office of U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, where she'll work as the Tennessee Republican's press secretary.
Originally from the Dallas area, the University of Arkansas graduate moved to Washington last year after graduating with a degree in communications and politics. She worked for Arkansas' 4th District congressman the past eight months.
Lovett, who developed an interest in politics while in high school, initially thought she might become a lawyer but realized, after interning in an attorney's office, that it wasn't the path for her.
So she went to Capitol Hill instead.
"Kasey's been an absolute joy. She brought a ton of energy to the office and did a really great job with our constituent services and helping with communications, and she will be sorely missed," said Westerman spokesman Ryan Saylor.
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 07/16/2017