Boozman gives GOP weekly address, Cotton critical of Cuban embassy news

Congress may have been in recess for the 4th of July holiday, but members of the state’s congressional delegation were in Arkansas this past week talking to voters and discussing issues.

The following is a breakdown of the week that was for Arkansas’ congressional delegation.

BOOZMAN DELIVERS WEEKLY GOP ADDRESS
The political week started early as Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., gave the weekly Republican radio and television address last weekend.

During the address, Boozman spoke about national security and defense issues.

“In an era where we face growing challenges from China and Russia as well as the persistent threat of terrorism, Republicans and Democrats alike say they want the United States to maintain its military dominance,” he said. “However, those words must be matched with action. We must take the necessary steps to protect our country from the evolving dangers facing our nation and its citizens and continue offering security to those people who face tyranny and oppression around the world.”

COTTON: CUBAN EMBASSY IDEA ‘BEYOND TROUBLING’
This weekend, Sen. Tom Cotton is slated to be on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos to discuss Iran.

An announcement this week by the Obama administration to open a U.S. embassy in Cuba drew opposition Wednesday from U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.

Supporters of the idea have said opening relations with the Communist nation will create new markets. Meanwhile, opponents have said the idea placates longtime leaders Fidel and Raoul Castro.

“President Obama’s continued appeasement of dictators around the world is beyond troubling. Since the President announced initial discussions with Cuba in December, there has been no change in the Castro brothers’ behavior. Yet we continue to reward them with unearned concessions, weakening our hand against our adversaries around the world. What kind of message does this send to the ayatollahs in Iran during this delicate period?” Cotton said. “The United States must stand squarely on the side of the Cuban people and do everything in our power to weaken the brutal rule of the Castro regime. Rest assured, I will work with my colleagues to block funding for a new embassy and confirmation of a new ambassador until there is real, fundamental change that gives hope to the oppressed people of Cuba.”

COTTON: U.S.-VIETNAM TRADE IS KEY
Cotton, on Tuesday, spoke about trade during the opening of the Vietnamese trade office in Bentonville. The future of trade between the United States and Vietnam is three-fold, Cotton said during the speech.

“The first is on trade. As evidenced by the opening of this office, our nations have made great progress on our trading relationship. Those bilateral efforts must continue,” Cotton said.

“Second, our nations must continue to deepen military cooperation. We have seen China take aggressive action to compromise Vietnam’s interests, particularly with Beijing’s claims to large portions of the South China Sea. This is deeply concerning,” he added. “Third, the United States and Vietnam must continue our productive and open dialogue regarding democracy and human rights.”

FARM BUREAU’S VEACH NAMED TO USDA TRADE COMMITTEE
Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach, a cotton, soybean and corn farmer from Manila (Mississippi County), was appointed Tuesday to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee for Tobacco, Cotton and Peanuts.

Veach, a cotton, soybean and corn farmer from Manila, was appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. Another Arkansan, Dow Brantley of Brantley Farming Company of England (Lonoke County), was named to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee.

Veach and Brantley are among 130 appointees to the six ATACs and the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee. The appointments run through 2019.

HILL ANNOUNCES SECOND GOLDEN FLEECE WINNER
And the winner is … the Social Security Administration.

U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, on Thursday announced the Social Security Administration was the second recipient of the Golden Fleece Award. The award, originally created by then-U.S. Senator William Proxmire, D-Wisc., was given due to a recent SSA Office of Inspector General Audit.

The audit showed that nearly four million beneficiaries of SSA disability programs were given $16.8 billion in overpayments, Hill said. Hill sent a letter to Carolyn Colvin, acting Social Security Administration Commissioner, to present the award and called on her to work with him in “eradicating this type of inefficient and ineffective spending.”