Several important matters are pending in Congress, including negotiations for a new government funding bill and calls for the federal government to provide assistance to farmers who are facing their worst financial crisis in decades. Joining me on Friday’s “Arkansas Week” to discuss the latest was Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Washington Correspondent Alex Thomas.
With just over two weeks left in the federal fiscal year, a spending plan will need to be passed by that deadline to avoid a government shutdown or the need for a short-term fix. The White House is encouraging Congress to pass a stopgap spending bill to extend funding through the end of January. But U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-District 3) wants a spending plan to be passed this month.
He sits on the House Appropriations Committee, which on Wednesday voted to advance the 12 funding bills needed for the plan. In a statement later that day, Womack said, “It’s now time for the rest of Congress to finish the job, leave Biden-Harris funding levels in the past, and pass the FY26 appropriations bills that are attuned to the current needs of the American people. This Congress has already shown it can exceed expectations and meet tough deadlines. I strongly urge my colleagues to bring that same energy and commitment to funding the government through regular order.”
In the second segment of the program, Arkansas State Broadband Office Director Glen Howie spoke with me about the state’s application for a federal grant which aims to achieve universal high-speed internet service throughout the state. After years of work to develop the extensive proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, it was submitted on Sept. 4. He’s confident on the prospects for the proposal.
Veteran news reporter, editor and manager spanning more than 30 years at newspapers, radio and television stations. I’m also a photographer, historian and author, having written the 2017 book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas and hosting a podcast of the same name.
