This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of February 16, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with a look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The Senate last week continued its consideration of President Donald Trump's picks for his administration.

Senators confirmed Brooke Rollins as agriculture secretary, Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services.

Sens. John Boozman, of Rogers, and Tom Cotton, of Little Rock, joined most of their Republican colleagues in supporting the nominations.

STORY: U.S. Senate confirms Rollins as agriculture secretary; Boozman hails her as 'advocate' for farmers

STORY: Boozman, Cotton support Gabbard as national intelligence director

Two members of Arkansas' congressional delegation are backing Trump's decision to implement tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Cotton and Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., were vocal in the last Congress in pushing for more action to protect American producers from foreign goods entering the United States.

Crawford, of Jonesboro, serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Steel Caucus.

STORY: Cotton, Crawford voice support for Trump action on steel, aluminum

An Arkansas electricity cooperative leader testified before House members on the federal permitting process.

Buddy Hasten, president and chief executive officer of Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, told lawmakers last Tuesday that current guidance hinders efforts to ensure Americans have access to sufficient energy services.

STORY: Arkansas electricity leader calls for reviewing federal regulations with projects

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., wants the Federal Reserve to take steps to confront inflation.

Hill, of Little Rock, addressed Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell during a House Financial Services Committee hearing last Wednesday on the matter.

Hill serves as the committee's chair.

STORY: Powell “not in a hurry” to make interest rate cuts, Hill wants more done on inflation

Thanks for listening to this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of February 9, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and I'm here to provide you with a look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Multiple Arkansans appeared before the Senate and House of Representatives in hopes of providing valuable insight and influencing public policy decisions.

Farmers Nathan Reed, of Marianna, and Jennifer James, of Newport, delivered testimony to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. Senators invited these producers and others to Capitol Hill to better understand the state of the agriculture economy.

On the other side of the U.S. Capitol, Arkansas banking leaders Cathy Owen and Sussanah Marshall discussed the challenges facing local community banking with the House Financial Services Committee.

STORY: Arkansas farmers push for new farm bill in U.S. Senate hearing

STORY: Hill’s first hearing as House committee chair brings attention to community banking

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., joined congressional colleagues and White House czar David Sacks last Tuesday to launch a bicameral working group focused on passing digital asset legislation.

Boozman, of Rogers, and Hill, of Little Rock, hope the body's work can lead to Congress creating a regulatory structure for cryptocurrencies and similar items.

STORY: Boozman, Hill help launch digital assets working group

If you have been following "Arkies in the Beltway" in recent months, then you know about Arkansas' newfound sway on Capitol Hill.

Five members of Arkansas' congressional delegation are serving as committee chairs in the 119th Congress. With these assignments, the Natural State has the more influence in the halls of Congress than it has had in the past five decades.

STORY: Arkansas’ lawmakers in Washington now hold five committee leadership posts

As President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress work on implementing their policy goals, Democrats are looking to move forward following last November's election results.

Democratic leaders — including top members of the Democratic Party of Arkansas — picked Ken Martin as the new chair of the Democratic National Committee at the committee's winter meeting outside of Washington, D.C.

Arkansas' top Democratic officials backed Martin, who most recently led the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

STORY: Arkansas Democrats look ahead following DNC leadership elections

Thanks for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of February 2, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

As members of the U.S. House of Representatives spent time away from the nation's capital, the Senate remained busy considering President Donald Trump's picks for his administration.

Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman representing Hawaii, appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee to discuss her nomination as director of national intelligence. Republican and Democratic senators pressed Gabbard on her past actions and comments, including a 2017 meeting with then-Syrian President Bashar Assad amid his country's civil war.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee. He sought answers from Gabbard regarding possible changes impacting bureaucracy within the intelligence community.

STORY: Tom Cotton hopes Tulsi Gabbard can be ally in confronting intelligence bureaucracy

Thanks for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!