Congressional Recap: Hammerschmidt Remembered

The state’s congressional delegation as well as other members of the House and Senate were back in their home districts this week as part of a two-week long spring recess.

While in the district, lawmakers worked on domestic and foreign policy issues as well as honoring a long time former U.S. Representative who passed away this week.

HAMMERSCHMIDT HONORED
Former Third District Cong. John Paul Hammerschmidt died Wednesday at the age of 92, with his nearly five-decade long public service career drawing support from many of the state’s political leaders.

Hammerschmidt defeated then Democratic Rep. Jim Trimble in 1966 and served in the U.S. House until 1993. Hammerschmidt was remembered by many as a mentor to future Republican officeholders, as well as a man who served his country in a variety of roles.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson called Hammerschmidt an “icon of Arkansas and Washington politics”, while former Gov. Mike Huckabee said Hammerschmidt was “the purest of public servants.”

“For years, he was the lone Republican member of Arkansas’s congressional delegation, representing the Third Congressional District for 13 terms. As such, he balanced his conservative convictions with a unique ability to work across party lines and accomplish great things for the people of Arkansas. His was the voice heard most clearly and often in the bipartisan effort to preserve the Buffalo as the first National River in the United States,” Hutchinson said.

“He was the most unselfish and self-effacing person I’ve ever known in politics. If he had an ego, it was the best kept secret in Washington where there are no secrets. In my first race, I was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Houston, the year that JPH was retiring. Reporters came to him and asked his opinion of the news of the day. Knowing that I could use the publicity since I was a newcomer, he turned to me seated behind him and told the reporters they should ask me. Not before or since have I ever known of a political figure who would take himself off the stage to make room for someone else,” Huckabee said.

More coverage on the passing of John Paul Hammerschmidt can be found here plus from this week’s TV show, we offer this video tribute to Hammerschmidt.

BIG DAM BRIDGE RECEIVES SUPPORT
Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, along with Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, said this week that the National Park Service will provide a Land and Water Conservation grant to help build restrooms and a bike repair shop at the base of the Big Dam Bridge in Little Rock.

Both men said the project will help build support for biking in the capital city.

“The Big Dam Bridge is one of the most well-known bike trails in America and a great source of pride for the people of Little Rock. As the longest pedestrian and bike-bridge in North America, it is important to the tourism and the economy in our area. I am pleased that the National Park Service and local partners recognized the need to come together in support of this enhancement,” Hill said.

“As Arkansas’ capital city, it’s important for us to be a leader in the development of pedestrian and bike-friendly communities. This grant will allow us to implement the first phase of a robust list of improvements planned for the Big Dam Bridge area at Murray Park. Our residents and visitors will soon be able to take advantage of these new amenities when they need a ‘nature break,’ or while they enjoy the amazing views of the Arkansas River during a walk or a bike ride,” Stodola said.

I-555 PROJECT SEES LIFE
On Thursday, Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, said he has a plan to upgrade U.S. 63 into I-555 in Northeast Arkansas.

Crawford said he plans to introduce legislation to exempt certain vehicles from some of the weight limit regulations imposed after a highway becomes an interstate. The plan to turn U.S. 63 from Jonesboro to east of Tyronza into the interstate has been supported by residents and economic development officials alike in recent years.

But, there has been an obstacle to the plan, Crawford said.

“Presently, there is a three-mile stretch of road that spans the St. Francis Floodway (in Poinsett County near Payneway) that requires an access road. Without it, cotton modules, agriculture equipment and some heavy vehicles like dump trucks would be forced to take a 90-mile detour. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department has indicated that an access road could cost as much as $50 million,” Crawford said.

The congressman has been working with the state Highway Commission and new commissioner Alec Farmer on the project.

WESTERMAN, BOOZMAN, COTTON DISCUSS IRAN
The discussion over a nuclear deal between Iran and the United States drew the ire of two members of the state’s congressional delegation and cautious reservation from a third.

Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., both criticized the deal announced Thursday by the Obama administration.

“This ‘deal’ is the furthest thing from a deal. What the president has done is appease a nation that is bent on destruction of one of America’s closest allies,” said Westerman. “Any deal that allows Iran to continue enrichment activities is not a deal our country can afford to make. I urge President Obama to do what is right for America and what is right for our closest ally – renegotiate a better deal or walk away.”

Cotton said the deal provided too much for the Iranian regime.

“There is no nuclear deal or framework with Iran; there is only a list of dangerous U.S. concessions that will put Iran on the path to nuclear weapons,” said Cotton. “These concessions also do nothing to stop or challenge Iran’s outlaw behavior. Iran remains the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism… I will work with my colleagues in the Senate to protect America from this very dangerous proposal and to stop a nuclear arms race in the world’s most volatile region.”

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said he was skeptical of the details of the Iran deal.

“We are just now learning about this framework and it is imperative that it be fully vetted. What little that has been made public reinforces the concern that the Obama Administration gave up on efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program in hopes of merely containing it,” he said. “The heavy reliance on placing trust in the regime in Tehran – which has never been forthcoming about the true extent of its nuclear program, actively supports terrorism and works diligently to destabilize the region — does not lend much hope for an agreement of this nature working.”

HILL VISITS US/MEXICO BORDER
Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, also toured the U.S./Mexico border to learn about border security and customs enforcement.

Hill told Arkansas News Bureau that the visit was informative and provided lawmakers an opportunity to learn more about the issue.

Hill toured the region with Reps. Ralph Abraham, R-La., and Will Hurd, R-Texas, Arkansas News reported.