Week of Feb. 9, 2025

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of February 9, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, the Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and I'm here to provide you with a look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Multiple Arkansans appeared before the Senate and House of Representatives in hopes of providing valuable insight and influencing public policy decisions.

Farmers Nathan Reed, of Marianna, and Jennifer James, of Newport, delivered testimony to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. Senators invited these producers and others to Capitol Hill to better understand the state of the agriculture economy.

On the other side of the U.S. Capitol, Arkansas banking leaders Cathy Owen and Sussanah Marshall discussed the challenges facing local community banking with the House Financial Services Committee.

STORY: Arkansas farmers push for new farm bill in U.S. Senate hearing

STORY: Hill’s first hearing as House committee chair brings attention to community banking

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., joined congressional colleagues and White House czar David Sacks last Tuesday to launch a bicameral working group focused on passing digital asset legislation.

Boozman, of Rogers, and Hill, of Little Rock, hope the body's work can lead to Congress creating a regulatory structure for cryptocurrencies and similar items.

STORY: Boozman, Hill help launch digital assets working group

If you have been following "Arkies in the Beltway" in recent months, then you know about Arkansas' newfound sway on Capitol Hill.

Five members of Arkansas' congressional delegation are serving as committee chairs in the 119th Congress. With these assignments, the Natural State has the more influence in the halls of Congress than it has had in the past five decades.

STORY: Arkansas’ lawmakers in Washington now hold five committee leadership posts

As President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress work on implementing their policy goals, Democrats are looking to move forward following last November's election results.

Democratic leaders — including top members of the Democratic Party of Arkansas — picked Ken Martin as the new chair of the Democratic National Committee at the committee's winter meeting outside of Washington, D.C.

Arkansas' top Democratic officials backed Martin, who most recently led the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

STORY: Arkansas Democrats look ahead following DNC leadership elections

Thanks for checking out "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on BlueSky for developments from the nation's capital!