Op-Ed

On June 2, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled its newest and worst-kept secret proposal in its fight to reduce carbon dioxide emissions nationwide. In a lengthy 645-page document, EPA advocated the U.S. reduce its carbon footprint 30 percent by 2030 with the agency planning to unveil its final ruling one year later and states facing compliance starting June 2016.

Earlier this year, I reached out to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources to request an official Committee field hearing within Arkansas' First District. While I don't sit on this particular House committee, I've grown concerned about potential overreaches from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding Critical Habitat Designations across Arkansas for two mussel species – the Neosho mucket and the Rabbitsfoot.

It's easy to get caught up in the commercialization that accompanies many of our holidays.

I'll give an example. What are your first thoughts when someone mentions "Mother's Day"?

Do you think of a special, nurturing lady, or do you think of fluff; Hallmark cards, phone calls, carnations, and roses?

It's easy to be guilty of the latter, missing the entire reason why West Virginia-native Anna Jarvis campaigned for nearly a decade to have Mother's Day as a holiday within the U.S.

Each generation has moments in time that stand out among the rest, whether for good or bad. As a kid, I think back to the wave from Richard Nixon in August of 1974 after he announced his resignation or the evacuation scenes prior the Fall of Saigon in April of 1975 heralding the end of the Vietnam War.

There's something about the "open road" that appeals to us as Americans. I think about the nostalgic, former U.S. highway Route 66, which served as a major path for people migrating west during the 1930s Dust Bowl.

In Arkansas' First District alone, we have two stretches of road listed on the National Scenic Byway list, including "The Great River Road" spanning the Mississippi River border and "Crowley's Ridge Parkway" running from Helena-West Helena to St. Francis.

I recently had the privilege to participate in a U.S. civics discussion at a First District high school in Gosnell, near Arkansas' northeastern border. The 9:40 a.m. class, taught by 40-plus year teaching veteran Danny Williams, consisted of approximately 20-30 high school ninth graders; a mix of wide-eyed early risers and others who still hadn't quite shaken the previous night's sleep.

Each time I walk into a classroom, I never really know the extent of the questions I'll receive from our youth, because I realize what I would've asked at that age.