Congressional Recap: 2016 Campaign Already Here

The state’s congressional delegation dealt with everything this past week from terrorism to health care to veterans’ issues.

The following is a breakdown of the week in our nation’s capital:

ROLL CALL: ‘OLD ARKANSAS DIED’
The changing political landscape in the Natural State drew the interest of Washington, D.C. publication Roll Call.

In a story Monday from reporter Kyle Trygstad, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., is featured prominently in the article.

“Arkansas is emerging from a swift political power transfer, with Sen. John Boozman suddenly finding himself the new dean of an all-Republican congressional delegation,” Trygstad wrote in the story.

The story also quotes Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist and Talk Business & Politics contributor John Brummett in a column he wrote earlier this year, saying 2014 was the year “Old Arkansas Died.”

Boozman, who is up for re-election in 2016, told the reporter that his re-election race provides the GOP an opportunity to see where the state’s politics may lie, with possible Democratic nominee and former Arkansas First Lady Hillary Clinton at the top of the Democratic ticket.

“Although they’re well liked, it didn’t appear that Hillary and President [Bill] Clinton had any bearing on what went on in Arkansas the last go-round,” Boozman told the reporter. “I really don’t see that they have any coattails in Arkansas.”

The story also quoted two Democratic operatives, Robert McLarty and John Anzalone, as well as State Sen. David Sanders, R-Little Rock and former Boozman campaign manager Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The comments from Anzalone may be foreboding at least for the time being.

“It might not be 2016 but I actually think in Arkansas, down the line, we’ll see that there’s going to be competitive races for state legislature, statewide races and then the congressionals. But right now everyone is just so shell-shocked and depressed,” Anzalone told the publication.

COTTON: GUANTANAMO PRISONERS CAN ‘ROT IN HELL’
In a critique of Obama administration policy for a plan to close a prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Sen. Tom Cotton ripped into Principal Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Brian McKeon during a hearing Thursday.

Cotton, who serves on the Senate Armed Forces Committee, first asked McKeon about the recidivism of released terrorists and the propaganda value that groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda get from the camp, Real Clear Politics reported Thursday.

“How many inmates at Guantanamo Bay are engaged in terrorism or anti-American incitement?” Cotton asked McKeon.

“There are none,” McKeon told Cotton.

“Because they are detained. They can only engage in that kind of recidivism overseas… Now let’s look at the propaganda value: How many detainees were at Guantanamo Bay on September 11, 2001?,” Cotton responded.

“None,” McKeon answered.

“How many were there in October 2000, when al-Qaeda bombed the U.S.S. Cole?,” Cotton asked McKeon.

“Zero,” McKeon said.

“What about in 1998 when they bombed the embassies (in Kenya and Tanzania),” Cotton asked.

“The facility was not open before 2002, Senator,” McKeon said.

“Islamic terrorists do not need an excuse to attack the United States, to attack us is what they do, they attack us for what we are. It is not your decision. It is a political promise the president made on his campaign. To say [closing the base] is a security decision based on propaganda value that our enemies get from it is a pretext to justify a political decision. In my opinion the only problem with Guantanamo Bay is there are too many empty beds and cells there right now. We should be sending more terrorists there for further interrogation to keep this country safe. As far as I’m concerned every last one of them can rot in Hell, but as long as they don’t do that they can rot in Guantanamo Bay.”

VA BILL GETS APPROVAL
A bill that would improve mental healthcare and suicide prevention resources for veterans received the support of Arkansas’ two U.S. senators Tuesday.

Both Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., voted in favor of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans, or SAV, Act.

The bill seeks to increase access to mental health programs, providing incentives to recruit and retain psychiatrists to treat veterans and enhancing resources for members of the military transitioning to civilian life, Boozman said.

“VA estimates 22 veterans commit suicide every day. This trend is tragic and unacceptable. We need to provide VA with the personnel, services and proper tools to help veterans facing mental illness struggles,” Boozman said during a speech on the Senate floor.

Boozman highlighted the need for improvements by sharing Sherwood resident Deborah Johnson’s agony of suicide in her family. Her 23-year-old son, Army Private Jeremy Andrew Johnson, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

During his transition out of the military, he exhibited suicidal thoughts and was put on suicide watch. Days later he was found dead of a presumed drug overdose.

Cotton, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said soldiers can face many kinds of scars.

“The emotional scars of war can often be just as difficult as physical injuries. While serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, I saw many examples of heroism, bravery, and valor in my fellow troops. But I also saw firsthand the pain and anguish that comes with post-traumatic stress. Nearly 6 years later, some of these men and women are still struggling,” Cotton said.

“But today the Senate passed important legislation that will increase access to high-quality mental health care for our troops. And it will ensure that those who are struggling with post-deployment readjustment don’t go through it alone. This bill is an important step forward in the battle against post-traumatic stress and I urge President Obama to sign it immediately.”

PROGRAM FOR VETERANS AND MINORITY FARMERS RECEIVE FUNDING
The University of Arkansas will receive nearly $750,000 to help with a training and mentoring program, members of the state’s congressional delegation said Tuesday.

Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, along with Cong. Steve Womack, said in a joint statement that the University of Arkansas has been awarded funding to develop an online and in-person training and mentoring program for military veterans and minority farmers.

Boozman said the program will help build for the future.

“Establishing this type of career development program at our state’s flagship university is significant in light of the sizable role agriculture plays in Arkansas’s economy. The collaboration will help train and mentor the next generation of farmers, including veterans who are transitioning to civilian life, so that Arkansas can continue to be a leader in the agriculture industry,” Boozman said.

Cotton said the program can provide an opportunity for people to succeed.

“Young Arkansans hold the future of Arkansas agriculture in their hands. This program will ensure they have the tools they need to succeed and ensure Arkansas agriculture continues to thrive,” Cotton said.

The program will also help agriculture, Womack said.

“Farmers are essential players in the Natural State’s economy,” Womack said. “We welcome this USDA-University of Arkansas collaboration, which will help grow our next generation of farmers.”

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The University of Arkansas will receive $749,720 to establish the program in collaboration with NIFA.

DELEGATION SUPPORTIVE OF OBAMACARE REPEAL
A bill that would repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, sent a clear message to the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, members of the state’s congressional delegation said Tuesday.

The bill, House Resolution 596, was approved by a 239-186 margin.

All four members of the delegation – Reps. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, French Hill, R-Little Rock, Steve Womack, R-Rogers and Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs – voted yes on the resolution.

Womack compared the law to a “train wreck”, saying it has impacted people in a negative way. Talk Business & Politics reported more on this story on Tuesday.