This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Dec. 21, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with one last look for the year at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have completed legislative business for the year, as lawmakers left Capitol Hill last week for the holidays.

One of the last bills to receive the House's approval: Rep. Bruce Westerman's legislation addressing permitting for energy and infrastructure projects.

Westerman, of Hot Springs, and Maine Democrat Jared Golden introduced the SPEED Act in late July with the intent of expediting environmental reviews and curtailing challenges that hinder project completion.

STORY: U.S. House passes Westerman-backed bill to speed infrastructure permits, scale back environmental law

Arkansas could feel the impact of this year’s annual defense policy measure, thanks to language calling for expanding munitions production.

President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law last Thursday. This year's measure prioritizes domestic munitions production, which could result in more activity at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Jefferson County.

STORY: Arkansas military installations get attention in National Defense Authorization Act

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com.

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Dec. 14, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Arkansas farm leaders are thankful for the White House’s plan to help agriculture, but they remain uneasy about farming's immediate future.

The Trump administration plans to provide farmers across the country with one-time relief payments in the coming months. The package totals $12 billion, with row crop farmers set to receive most of the funds.

STORY: Arkansas farmers thankful, remain uneasy following Trump economic relief announcement

The Trump administration announced the relief package during a roundtable last Monday at the White House.

Two Arkansans — U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Crittenden County farmer Charles Williams — joined other lawmakers and farmers for the event.

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

The Arkansas Army National Guard continues its mission in the nation’s capital. Roughly 100 National Guard members arrived in Washington, D.C., earlier this month to assist local law enforcement.

The topic of deploying National Guard units to cities across the country was the subject of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last Thursday.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., serves on the committee. The Little Rock senator defended the president's ability to use the National Guard and military units in American cities, citing President Dwight Eisenhower's 1957 decision to send federal troops to Little Rock to desegregate Little Rock Central High School.

STORY: Cotton defends Trump’s National Guard deployments to U.S. cities, compares them to Central High crisis

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced David Clay Fowlkes' nomination to the full chamber for its consideration.

President Donald Trump nominated Fowlkes to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. The Arkansan currently serves as the district's U.S. attorney.

STORY: U.S. Senate committee advances Fowlkes judicial nomination

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Dec. 7, 2025! 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 Arkansas' congressional delegation back recent U.S. military strikes against boats traveling from Latin America. The Trump administration has embraced these attacks as part of its strategy to confront drug trafficking.

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton and Rep. Rick Crawford heard more information about these strikes in closed-door briefings. Cotton, of Little Rock, and Crawford, of Jonesboro, lead the Senate and House intelligence committees, respectively.

STORY: Arkansas lawmakers back Trump administration on legality of recent military strikes in Caribbean Sea

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!