Why DOJ must block the Cigna-Express Scripts merger Written by: David Balto Published by: The Hill If one message is becoming clear, it’s that increased concentration is harming consumers and leading to less competition, decreased choice and higher cost. The need for corporations to compete is dampened when markets are dominated by a small number of firms. Worse, when consumers don’t have the ability to discipline markets there is a lack of transparency or accountability. Nowhere is that more tr...
Plan to build power line across state out of steam Written by: Frank Lockwood Published by: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Energy and Clean Line Energy Partners severed ties Friday, ending their joint effort to build a power line across Arkansas. Members of the state's congressional delegation, who had fought the $2.5 billion project for years, welcomed the news. "This is a victory for states' rights and a victory for Arkansas. We are pleased that the Department o...
Congressman asks regulators to slow CVS/Aetna merger Written by: Benjamin Hardy Published by: Courier News LITTLE ROCK — On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-1) sent letters to federal regulators stating his “grave concern” over the proposed acquisition of Aetna, Inc., one of the nation’s largest insurance companies, by CVS Health, a Rhode Island-based health care conglomerate that has been at the center of a political showdown in Arkansas. The congressman wrote that CVS Caremark — a subsidi...
Final action necessary to support American steel, national security Written by: Reps. Rick Crawford (R-AR), Mike Bost (R-IL), and Peter J. Visclosky (D-IN) Published by: The Hill As the leaders of the Congressional Steel Caucus, we represent, and in many cases personally know, those who are directly suffering as the result of unfair foreign trade and economic policies that have hurt the U.S. steel industry. Steel is vitally important to our nation’s overall national security. It’s with these con...
Washington – Earlier today, Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) sent letters to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Acting Chairwoman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Maureen Ohlhausen expressing “grave concern” over the proposed acquisition of Aetna Inc. by CVS Health. In the letter, Crawford writes “[CVS Caremark] has already run amok in my state by severely undercutting reimbursements to pharmacists…CVS Caremark and another PBM operating in the state paid community pharmacies on average betwe...
Washington – Earlier today, President Donald Trump announced he impose a 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, with exceptions for Canada and Mexico. Trump's authority to impose the tariffs is based on a law that gives the president the power to restrict trade on the basis of national security interests. During the announcement, the President said of additional exceptions, “If the same goals can be accomplished by other means, America will remain open to modifying or removing ta...
Arkansas Steel and Arkansas Farming: Farm Bureau and U.S. Rep. Crawford Differ On Trump Tariff Written by: Colton Faull & Jacob Kauffman Published by: NPR Agriculture officials in Arkansas are concerned President Trump’s proposed steel tariff could have consequences that would negatively impact the industry. The administration has floated a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum But U.S. Representative Rick Crawford, who represents one of the nation's highest steel produc...
Agri officials worried about Trump tariffs, Rep. Crawford says tariffs won’t be a problem Written by: George Jared Published by: Talk Business & Politics President Donald Trump’s plan to enact a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% tariff on aluminum has some concerned about global trade wars that could hurt Arkansas agriculture – the state’s largest industry sector. But U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, who also represents the district in which Big River Steel operates, told Talk Business ...
Jonesboro, AR – Earlier today Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) met with several 1st District community pharmacists with stores in Sharp, Craighead, Crittenden, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Lawrence counties to discuss problems relating to reimbursement rates from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Following the meeting’s conclusion, Congressman Rick Crawford released the following statement: “Our local pharmacies have endured many unnecessary burdens due to the practices at CVS/Caremark as a PBM. A...
WASHINGTON – Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) announced today the introduction of the Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities (ARRC) Act, a bipartisan bill that will help rural communities bolster their efforts to fight the opioid and addiction epidemic. Congressman Crawford joined Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Roger Marshall (KS-01) and Dwight Evans (PA-02) in introducing the legislation in the House of Representatives. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Luther Strange (R-AL) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) also i...
