Washington news in brief

3 lawmakers honor slain deputy sheriff

WASHINGTON -- Three members of the Arkansas congressional delegation paid tribute last week to an Arkansas law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty.

In speeches on the House floor Wednesday, U.S. Reps. Bruce Westerman and Steve Womack honored Cpl. Bill Cooper, a Sebastian County sheriff's deputy who was shot and fatally wounded on Aug. 10 while responding to reports of a disturbance near Greenwood.

Part of Sebastian County is in Womack's congressional district, which covers most of Northwest Arkansas. The rest of the county is in Westerman's district.

Westerman praised Cooper's "dedication to God, his family, the sheriff's department, and the country he loved."

"I don't pretend that my words will fill the void left by his death, but I hope my words can properly honor a man who paid the ultimate price upholding the oath he swore to defend," the Republican from Hot Springs said.

Womack, a Republican from Rogers, said Sebastian County and his entire congressional district are mourning.

"His is a great loss to Arkansas law enforcement and a reminder of the bravery of our men and women in blue who put their lives on the line every day to keep our citizens safe," Womack said. "May God bless those he leaves behind as they search for peace and understanding through this terrible tragedy."

On Thursday, U.S. Sen. John Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, also eulogized Cooper on Capitol Hill, calling him a hero.

Boozman noted that he'd attended Northside High School in Fort Smith with Cooper years ago and praised him for being "a model law enforcement officer who did things the right way."

"While our hearts break for those who knew him, we also respect and admire Cpl. Cooper for his lifetime of service. He truly was someone who ran toward danger in order to protect others."

Billy Monroe Jones has been charged with capital murder in the case; he has pleaded innocent.

Winrock exec heard on rural Arkansas

Linsley Kinkade, Winrock International's deputy director of U.S. programs, testified on Capitol Hill on Thursday, addressing the House Committee on Small Business' subcommittee on economic growth, tax and capital access.

U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, D-Cal., asked Kinkade to testify about economic development in rural Arkansas.

Although she once worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln and U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder, both Democrats, Kinkade said this was the first time she'd ever appeared before a congressional panel.

Kinkade told lawmakers that her Little Rock-based organization is working "to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources."

Most of its domestic work is focused on Arkansas and Louisiana, she said.

During her presentation, Kinkade praised Lake Village for working to revive its downtown, saying its efforts have helped to attract new businesses.

"Economic development occurs in communities where people can live, work and grow. The revitalization of Main Streets and courthouse squares across rural America can be the catalyst for new community investment," she said.

Hill: Sending Iran $1.7B myopic move

During a Thursday meeting of the House Financial Services Committee, U.S. Rep. French Hill questioned officials about the Obama administration's decision to send $1.7 billion in cash to the Iranian regime.

Pallets of non-U.S. currency were delivered to Tehran earlier this year, money that settled decades-old claims involving weapons that were paid for but never delivered.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed after the fall of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Lawmakers heard from Christopher Backemeyer, a State Department deputy assistant secretary for Iranian affairs, among others.

Although the administration officials who spoke were "helpful and informative," Hill expressed concern about the way the cash transactions were handled.

"It certainly gives the appearance of a ransom payment which I think enables ISIS and al-Qaida to claim that it was a ransom payment, and that's bad because it ... puts American interests at risk abroad," the Republican from Little Rock said.

Hill called it "poor judgment" to send cash.

Cotton in lineup for Values Voters talk

Republican officials lined up to speak at the Values Voter Summit last week, an annual gathering that attracts thousands of Christian conservatives to Washington, D.C.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Dardanelle, was to address the crowd Saturday evening. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke Friday afternoon.

Missing from the list of speakers this year was former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

The 2008 and 2016 Republican presidential candidate has appeared repeatedly over the years. He finished third in the group's 2014 and 2015 straw polls, trailing U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and surgeon Dr. Ben Carson both times.

Huckabee dropped out of this year's race on the day of the Iowa caucuses, after finishing ninth.

Arkansas teachers get national awards

Arkansas teachers received the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching at a ceremony last week in Washington.

Overall, 213 teachers were recognized.

In the middle school and high school category, former Bryant High School teacher Daniel Moix received the math award and Diedre Young, a teacher at Pine Bluff's Ridgway Christian School was given the science honor.

Moix now works at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts in Hot Springs.

In the kindergarten-through-sixth-grade category, the math award went to Ashley Kasnicka of Harvey Jones Elementary School in Springdale. Cassie Kautzer formerly of Monitor Elementary School in Springdale was recognized for science. Kautzer now teaches at Hellstern Middle School in Springdale.

The winners each receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.

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.

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