Congressional Digest: Iran Letter, Gitmo Travel Occupy Cotton’s High Profile Week

A week’s discussion of foreign policy, especially growing issues with Iran, drew attention from around the world and in the Natural State, as foreign policy experts and politicos weighed in on Arkansas’ junior senator, Tom Cotton.

House members were back home on a one-week district tour period, while members of the U.S. Senate, including Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., condemned the President’s handling of a possible deal with Iran over nuclear weapons.

The following is a breakdown of the week for Arkansas’ congressional delegation:

COTTON LETTER
Cotton, Boozman and 45 Republican senators sent a letter Monday to Iranian leaders about discussions between the Obama administration and the Iranian government.

In the letter, Cotton said Congress plays a “significant role” in ratifying international agreements. The letter drew scorn from Democrats in the state and nationally, with officials saying the letter undercut the Obama administration’s ability to negotiate in the issue.

Cotton spent most of the week on several national talk shows discussing the letter and the need for congressional oversight on the issue.

On Wednesday, Cotton wrote an op-ed in USA Today on the issue.

“The administration cares little about what will win congressional approval — only complete nuclear disarmament — and more about just reaching some sort of deal. Regrettably, it appears the deal President Obama is negotiating with Iran will not be a good one. In fact, if reports are correct, it will be a bad one that will ultimately allow Iran to continue its nuclear program and ultimately develop a nuclear weapon,” Cotton said. “That is why this week, I, along with 46 of my fellow senators, wrote Iranian leaders to inform them of the role Congress plays in approving their agreement. Our goal is simple: to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. I do not take my obligations as a senator lightly. Nor do those who are signatories to the letter. If the president won’t share our role in the process with his negotiating partner, we won’t hesitate to do it ourselves. Our constituents elected us to the Senate, in part, to protect them from bad agreements like this and to help ensure their safety and security. And that is what we intend to do.”

Cotton will appear Sunday, March 15 on Talk Business and Politics on KATV Ch. 7 at 9 a.m.

Cotton also toured Guantanamo Bay on Friday along with Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Thom Tillis, R-NC and Mike Rounds, R-SD. The group returned Friday night from a trip to the naval station where they toured the Guantanamo Bay base, observed detention operations, and met with military commanders.

“First, the service members stationed at Guantanamo Bay have a difficult job. They are true patriots who deserve our thanks and praise,” Cotton said. “Guantanamo Bay is a first-rate detention facility that houses some of the world’s most hardened terrorists. It’s one of our most effective counterterrorism tools. After visiting today, I remain firm in my belief that this facility should not only remain open—but that we should not shy away from increasing the number of prisoners held there.”

UAPB RECEIVES GRANT
On Wednesday, Boozman, Cotton and Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, announced that the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff was the recipient of a $1.4 million grant.

The grant, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will be used to develop and strengthen partnerships for higher quality education services to children.

“Providing young Arkansans with a learning environment to help improve their education is important to educational success. Fostering education at a young age is important to their future success in the classroom,” Boozman said.

“A solid education is essential to success in an increasingly competitive job market. Congratulations to UAPB and the children of Jefferson County,” Westerman said.

BOOZMAN INTRODUCES VA BILL
A bill to address mental health provider shortages and to increase access for service members and veterans was filed this week by Sen. Boozman and Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.

The Frontline Mental Health Provider Training Act would create a pilot program within the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration to look at whether or not the use of expanded use of physician assistants who specialize the psychiatric medicine can meet the demand for services.

“It is clear that we need to increase access to critical mental health care for the men and women who currently serve and those who have served our nation. One way to ensure that service members and veterans struggling with mental health issues have access to care they need is to train more DoD and VA professionals to provide psychiatric care. That is why I am pleased Senator Donnelly invited me to join this effort to help close the gap between those in need of care and those who can provide it,” Boozman said.

Boozman was also named Friday as a co-chairman of the Senate Air Force Caucus.

The group is made up of 35 senators who work on issues related to the Air Force. The caucus sponsors briefings and base visits, as well as meeting with Air Force officials.

Boozman said the branch of the military has a huge impact on the state.

“More than 10,000 Arkansas men and women support our nation’s military air capability at the 189th Air Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base and the 188th Wing in Fort Smith. We need to ensure that these personnel, and all airmen and women, have the resources they need to accomplish their missions. I look forward to working with my colleagues to support our Air Force,” Boozman said.