Op-Ed

This week I hosted a Nutrition Summit in Jonesboro to shed light on an extremely important issue that has impacted students in Arkansas and across the Nation. In recent weeks I have spoken to numerous teachers, coaches and parents about new rules from the Department of Agriculture concerning nutrition standards for school lunches. The new standards cut drastically the number of calories students can consume on a daily basis.

Soon senior citizens across our congressional district will be receiving information about Medicare Open Enrollment. During the two month period, current Medicare beneficiaries can alter their coverage plans and new beneficiaries can sign up for a Medicare plan for the first time. Medicare enrollment is open from October 15th through December 7th. During open enrollment there will be an opportunity to:

• Change to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or select a different plan that better meets your needs;
• Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan;

It has been nearly four months since the Supreme Court ruled President Obama's healthcare law constitutional. Despite the justices' ruling, the President's healthcare mandate is taking a toll on our struggling economy. Over the last few years I have talked to numerous small business owners across our district who say the uncertainty created with the healthcare mandate is keeping them from hiring new employees.

Rice production took root in Arkansas nearly 100 years ago. Today, Arkansas ranks at the top of the six major rice producing states and accounts for nearly half of all rice production in the country. Rice produced in Arkansas is known for its versatility and is used in a great variety of dishes in the United States and throughout the world. As family rice farmers across our state are harvesting their crop, our country is celebrating the month of September as National Rice Month.

Since my election to Congress I have talked about the importance of passing a Farm Bill that would give farm families in Arkansas and across the country the security they need to continue producing the safest, most affordable and abundant supply of food on the planet. Unfortunately, election year politics have gotten in the way of enacting sound policies on which rural America depends. Some in Congress think that putting their electoral ambitions ahead of the needs of our farmers and ranchers will score political points.

Since my election to Congress I have talked about the importance of passing a Farm Bill that would give farm families in Arkansas and across the country the security they need to continue producing the safest, most affordable and abundant supply of food on the planet. Unfortunately, election year politics have gotten in the way of enacting sound policies on which rural America depends. Some in Congress think that putting their electoral ambitions ahead of the needs of our farmers and ranchers will score political points.

As a former small business owner I know small businesses are the engine for job creation and entrepreneurial expansion. Through my own experience and by talking to small business owners across our district I also know nothing kills jobs faster than a Washington regulation. Too often federal agencies impose rules without talking to the people who will be forced to live with them. As your representative in Congress I am working to give small business owners and job creators some relief from onerous regulations.

September 11, 2001 is a day that will forever be etched in our nation's memory. This week America will mark the eleventh anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. None of us will ever forget where we were or who we were with when we heard the terrible news of the attacks. Nearly 3,000 innocent people lost their lives that day. Three thousand is a big number, and it is important to remember that each of those 3,000 have a name and loved ones left behind. Let's remember a few of those taken on September 11: