Defense, trade and government waste part of recent Congressional week

The schedule in the nation’s capital this week was hectic as lawmakers dealt with national security, defense, trade and government waste among other issues. The following is a recap of activity.

SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES EPA OVERREACH BILL
The Senate Environment and Public Works committee approved a bill Wednesday that would seek to push back on a “power-grab” by the Obama administration, U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said.

Boozman, who is on the committee, voted to approve legislation involving the “Waters of the United States,” sending it to the full Senate. The bill seeks to rein in Environmental Protection Agency overreach and gives the agency direction to write a rule that protects waterways without eroding the rights of landowners, Boozman said.

“WOTUS is an attack on property rights of all landowners that EPA touts as environmental protection. It is nothing more than overly burdensome and costly regulatory power-grab by Washington,” Boozman said. “Our bill protects Americans from the EPA’s gross overreach and requires the agency to write a rule that protects our waters while preserving the rights of landowners.”

Under the bill, agencies would be required to review the current proposal and follow certain principles, Boozman said.

“EPA wants Americans to think that the only way we can protect our environment is by giving Washington wide-ranging power to control our water and air. The reality is Arkansans know better than those in our nation’s capital. We take great pride in being called the Natural State, work hard at the state and local level to maintain that and we don’t need bureaucrats in Washington to protect our resources for us,” Boozman said.

HILL GIVES FIRST GOLDEN FLEECE AWARD
The Veterans Administration Medical Center in Little Rock received an award from Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, that takes a look at wasteful government spending. The first recipient of the Golden Fleece Award was given by Hill this week.

Hill sent a letter Wednesday to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald to present the award. In the letter, Hill said the award “highlights the excessive, unnecessary and costly government projects and regulations that are wasting hardworking taxpayer dollars and hindering the growth (of) our economy.”

“Today’s Golden Fleece is awarded to the VA for the mishandling of the $8 million solar panel project at the Little Rock Veterans Affairs Medical Center,” the letter from Hill to McDonald read. “The VA has been plagued with costly construction projects over the years, and in February 2012, the VA received and designated an $8 million grant to build a 1.8 megawatt solar photovoltaic system in the parking lot of the Little Rock VAMC.”

The award was first created in the 1970s by then-Sen. William Proxmire, D-Wisc., to highlight waste in government.

HOUSE APPROVES DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL
The House on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to approve the Defense Department budget with all four members of the U.S. House from the state voting yes. The bill, which passed 278-149, would appropriate $490.1 billion for discretionary spending and $88.4 billion for the Global War on Terror.

Reps. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, and French Hill, R-Little Rock, said the bill will provide needed funding in a dangerous world.

“From ISIL to Boko Haram, America faces new and growing threats daily. Now is not the time to weaken our military. That is why I am proud to support this thoughtful, well-crafted piece of legislation, which provides our troops with the equipment and training they require and the benefits and services they deserve, while also contributing to the GWOT account and providing our combatant commanders with the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities they need to fight the ongoing war on terror and keep Americans safe at home,” Womack said.

“Earlier this week, the President said he doesn’t have a full strategy in place to train Iraqi soldiers to fight ISIS. This is indicative of a leader who isn’t committed to defeating dangerous enemies. Today’s vote to fund the Department of Defense for FY 16 is a signal to the President that Congress is serious about protecting the people’s national security interests and that it’s time he follow our lead by putting forth the plans needed to defeat ISIS and similar terrorist organizations,” Hill said. “In addition to fully funding our military operations around the globe, this bill also increases pay and benefits for service members and their families. I am proud to support it, and I will continue to work on behalf of Arkansans to ensure the entire government maintains its commitment to our national defense.”

TRADE VOTE MAKES FOR BUSY FRIDAY
Arkansas’ four U.S. representatives voted Friday to approve Trade Promotion Authority for the President, as the U.S. House voted down a key first part of the overall trade package.

The House voted 219-212 in favor of the second part of the trade package (Trade Promotion Authority), with Reps. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, French Hill, R-Little Rock, Steve Womack, R-Rogers, and Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, voting yes on the bill.

The vote was just minutes after the House overwhelmingly defeated a bill involving so-called Trade Adjustment Assistance by a 302-126 margin.

Crawford, Hill, Womack and Westerman each voted no on the Trade Adjustment Assistance bill, which is expected to go back before the House next week.

The trade adjustment assistance bill must be passed before the trade package can be signed into law, officials said Friday. On the assistance bill, 158 Republicans and 144 Democrats voted no while 86 Republicans and 40 Democrats voted yes.