This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Nov. 17, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of Congress have returned to Capitol Hill, and they are not wasting time preparing for next year's Republican trifecta.

Senate Republicans elected Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., as their conference chair. Cotton, of Little Rock, defeated Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst in a secret ballot for the No. 3 seat in the Senate GOP.

STORY: Tom Cotton named No. 3 Republican in U.S. Senate

President-elect Donald Trump continues to assemble his administration.

Trump has made multiple picks for positions, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as the next ambassador to Israel.

Huckabee, who served as the Natural State's governor for more than a decade, has been a vocal Trump supporter. He endorsed Trump's 2016 presidential campaign after ending his own White House bid.

STORY: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tapped as U.S. ambassador to Israel by Trump

Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., has published a list of principles for rules affecting community banks.

Hill, of Little Rock, released his goals for the next Congress amid his pursuit of the House Financial Services Committee chair job.

STORY: Hill proposes community banking ideas as he pursues financial committee chairmanship

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across most platforms is @AlexHouseThomas. You can also find me on Bluesky.

Welcome to "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Nov. 10, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing these discussions.

Arkansas' members of the U.S. House of Representatives had a successful Election Day.

All four incumbents — Republican Reps. Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman — will return to Capitol Hill to continue their congressional careers.

In addition, Crawford, Hill and Westerman could begin the next Congress in January as committee chairs.

STORY: Arkansas' four U.S. House incumbents reelected

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., plans to stay in the Senate.

Cotton, of Little Rock, opted against joining Donald Trump's second administration to continue serving as senator. The move comes as Cotton eyes a spot on the Senate Republican leadership team.

STORY: As Trump forms second Cabinet, Cotton ‘very happy’ in U.S. Senate

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Nov. 3, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing these discussions.

Election Day is Tuesday, and Arkansas' federal lawmakers have multiple reasons to keep their eyes on the results.

There are, of course, the races in Arkansas' four House of Representatives districts, but there are also eyes on the Senate and House contests happening outside of the Natural State.

If Republicans flip the Senate and hold onto the House, this possible GOP control of Capitol Hill could provide Arkansas' two senators and four House members with tremendous influence on public policy through committee and party leadership roles.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette.

Congress does have work to do in the final weeks of this year.

A bipartisan group of House members is pushing legislation to provide emergency financial assistance payments to farmers in financial straits.

Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark, is cosponsoring the Farmer Assistance Revenue Mitigation Act, which comes as the Senate and House struggle to reach final terms of a new farm bill.

STORY: Crawford joins congressional coalition urging agriculture relief

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Oct. 27, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing these conversations.

We conclude our series covering Arkansas' four congressional races by looking at the 4th Congressional District contest. U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., has served on Capitol Hill since January 2015. Democrat Risie Howard of Pine Bluff is challenging the Hot Springs incumbent for the seat.

STORY: Westerman, Howard face off in 4th Congressional District contest

Thank you for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.

Welcome to "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Oct. 20, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing these conversations.

This week's episode is the third part of our series covering Arkansas' four congressional races in this fall's general election. We're looking at the contest in the Natural State's 3rd Congressional District; Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., is seeking an eighth term on Capitol Hill as Democrat Caitlin Draper and Libertarian Bobby Wilson put forward their own challenges to the incumbent.

STORY: Womack faces Democratic, Libertarian challengers in 3rd District race

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Oct. 13, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing these conversations.

We continue our month-long series on Arkansas' four congressional races by looking at the 2nd District contest between Republican incumbent Rep. French Hill and Democratic challenger Marcus Jones.

Hill, of Little Rock, is running for re-election with nearly a decade of experience on Capitol Hill. As for Jones, also of Little Rock, he entered the contest last October after 29 years with the military.

STORY: Hill, Jones work on selling experience in 2nd District contest

Thank you for checking out this week's edition of "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Oct. 6, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing these conversations.

Election Day is less than a month away, and Arkansans will have many candidates to consider for local, state and federal offices.

During October, "Arkies in the Beltway" will look at the contests for Arkansas’ congressional districts, hearing from the candidates as they explain why they are best suited to represent the Natural State on Capitol Hill.

We start this series, appropriately enough, with Arkansas' 1st Congressional District; incumbent Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., is facing challenges from Democrat Rodney Govens and Libertarian Steve Parsons.

STORY: Crawford faces 2 challengers in 1st District U.S. House election

Thank you for checking out this week's edition of "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Sept. 29, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at the Arkansans influencing the national political discussions.

The "Man in Black" is now in bronze.

Arkansans joined congressional leaders, Arkansas lawmakers and members of Johnny Cash's family on Capitol Hill last Tuesday for a ceremony unveiling a statue of the Arkansas native on Capitol Hill.

Cash is the first musician to be recognized with a sculpture in the National Statuary Hall collection.

The ceremony completes a multi-year effort to install new statues of Arkansans at the U.S. Capitol; officials unveiled a sculpture honoring civil rights leader Daisy Bates in May.

STORY: Musician, Arkansas legend Johnny Cash recognized with U.S. Capitol statue

The Senate and House of Representatives have started their October recess.

Members of both chambers left Capitol Hill last week after passing a continuing resolution funding the federal government through Dec. 20.

When lawmakers return to Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12, they will have five weeks of legislative business to complete any lingering work before the new Congress begins its first legislative session in January.

STORY: Arkansas’ federal lawmakers weigh in on temporary government funding, preview post-election budget fight

Thank you for listening to this week's "Arkies in the Beltway!" Make sure to stay up to date with all news involving Arkansas at arkansasonline.com. You can track what's happening in the nation's capital by following me on social media; my handle across all platforms is @AlexHouseThomas.