Washington news in brief

State bankers visit D.C., walk with Hill

WASHINGTON -- Arkansas Bankers Association members traveled to Washington, D.C., last week, taking some time to visit with members of the state's congressional delegation.

The trip coincided with the American Bankers Association's Government Relations Summit, which is described as an "opportunity to ensure lawmakers know the value of a strong banking industry."

At the U.S. Capitol, they strolled through the hallways, escorted for a time by U.S. Rep. French Hill. Hill, a Republican from Little Rock, is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Delta Trust and Banking Corp. and now serves on the House Financial Services Committee.

Hill said he appreciated the visit.

"I always like to hear stories from their local communities about how they're helping their communities grow and also how we can improve the regulatory system so that it helps consumers and business get access to the products and credit that they need," he said.

Cotton returns from Middle East travel

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton traveled to Lebanon, Jordan and Israel this month as part of a congressional delegation. He left March 16 and returned Monday.

During the visit, lawmakers discussed counterterrorism efforts, the war in Syria and the Iranian nuclear program.

While in Jerusalem, Cotton appeared on CNN's State of the Union. He was also interviewed by the Jerusalem Post.

The Republican from Dardanelle serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, as well as the Senate Intelligence Committee.

GOP touts Womack on $30M fundraiser

Republicans raised tens of millions of dollars in a single evening, and they're praising an Arkansas lawmaker for helping make it happen.

The National Republican Congressional Committee collected $30 million at its annual March dinner. That's up from the $20.5 million raised at last year's dinner.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, a Republican from Rogers, was the dinner's chairman. He shared the spotlight with the evening's keynote speaker, President Donald Trump.

In a news release, committee chairman Steve Stivers gave the Arkansan much of the credit for the event's success.

"Steve Womack's incredible leadership and dedication to accomplish our Republican objectives pushed this year's NRCC March Dinner to record-breaking numbers," Stivers said. "What his team accomplished brings us one step closer to protecting our historic majority in the House and victory in 2018. He has a very bright future in our party."

Boozman visits lab at air base in Ohio

U.S. Sen. John Boozman traveled to Ohio on Friday to visit Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

The military facility, just east of Dayton, is the site of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

The Republican from Rogers met with lab officials, as well as representatives of the Air Force Institute of Technology, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

The site was originally named after one of the Wright brothers -- Wilbur Wright, who died in 1912 in Dayton -- nine years after their famous flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C. Patterson refers to Lt. Frank S. Patterson, a pilot with the Army Air Corps, who died in 1918 during a test flight.

Boozman is co-chairman of the Senate Air Force Caucus. He was joined by the other co-chairman, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, as well as other lawmakers from Ohio, Rhode Island and Hawaii.

Westerman sets up telephone meeting

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman plans to hold a telephone town-hall-style meeting Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. and is inviting his constituents to participate in it.

The Republican from Hot Springs will be calling thousands of residents in his district inviting them to join him. For others, there'll be information about how to listen posted at https://westerman.house.gov/.

Westerman will speak about various issues, including the American Health Care Act -- the now-shelved Republican alternative to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that's often referred to as Obamacare.

Westerman's last telephone town-hall-style meeting was March 9. A recording of it is posted on his Web page.

Service academies focus of sessions

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, like all members of Congress, is able to nominate young men and women to attend one of the nation's service academies.

On Saturday, the Republican from Rogers is holding what he calls 2017 Academy Day, a chance to learn about how the process works.

"Young men and women who are interested in pursuing appointments to the United States Service Academies, as well as those interested in Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships, are encouraged to attend. The events are open to the public," Womack's office said in a news release.

Womack will start at Southside High School at 4100 Gary St. in Fort Smith, from 9-11 a.m.

He'll head north to the Armed Forces Reserve Center's Assembly Hall/Auditorium at 6800 SW Minuteman Ave. in Bentonville, for a similar event that runs from 2-4 p.m.

More information is available by visiting http://womack.house.gov/constituentservices/servicefaqs.htm.

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 03/26/2017

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