As the Representative for Arkansas’ First District, I have taken great pains to engage with families during the disastrous rollout of ObamaCare, to hear their concerns and problems with the law, and above all, to listen. The stories I have heard of cancelled policies, exploding premiums, and inflexible insurance plans anger and sadden me. Earlier this month, my office was contacted by one mother and wife living in Northeast Arkansas whose family will experience great hardship as a direct result ...
“Today we honor those who have put their lives at risk to defend our nation, and have given of their personal health to preserve our freedoms. America’s warriors, who serve in every corner of the globe, represent the best among us. I thank our veterans for their service and will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that those who have given so much are well taken care of upon returning home.” ### Purple Heart Day, observed every year on August 7, is the date on which then-General Geor...
Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) issued the following statement after China’s decision to cease importation of Arkansas poultry products following an isolated incident of avian flu: “Those of us in Arkansas who have enjoyed the nutritious, tasty, and perfectly safe poultry products produced in our state for generations can attest to the high quality of Arkansas chicken. One isolated incident, dealt with according to regulations and without any further evidence of illness, should not preclude our...
Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) issued the following statement after Baptist Health, one of the largest Arkansas-owned health providers in the state, announced that it would eliminate approximately 170 positions across its organization, representing roughly 2.5% of its total workforce: “ObamaCare’s approach is already beginning to have a negative effect on job creation and growth across Arkansas. With Baptist Health’s announcement, they have reaffirmed what I have long argued – this law is deep...
Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) issued the following statement after House leadership announced that the House would vote to delay the individual mandate of ObamaCare this month in response to the Administration’s decision last week to delay the employer mandate portion of the law: “The Obama Administration’s decision to delay the employer mandate portion of ObamaCare does not go nearly far enough to avoid the crushing burden of this law on Arkansas families once it goes into effect. Individual...
Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) issued the following statement after the Obama Administration announced it would postpone for one year the requirement that all businesses cover their employees under ObamaCare: "While this decision by the Obama Administration seeks to address one of the larger underlying problems with ObamaCare in the employer mandate, it falls short of what I called for earlier this year - a multi-year delay in the law's implementation. This law is estimated to add $1.3 trillio...
Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) issued the following statement in reaction to the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA): “While the court has made its decision, my convictions remain unchanged – marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. I have always supported traditional marriage and will continue to do so as Northeast Arkansas’ Representative to Congress. “Ultimately, states issue marriage licenses, not the federal government. States shoul...
Three years ago President Obama signed his massive takeover of our Nation’s healthcare system into law. Since then the Department of Health and Human Services has been busy writing thousands of new regulations to begin implementing the mandate. Today, states like Arkansas are being forced to make tough decisions about paying for expanded healthcare services. I applaud Arkansas state legislative leaders who are doing their best to make lemonade out of lemons and try to cope with a bad situation. ...
Today, Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1), issued the following statement regarding the so-called Arkansas Plan that would use federal Medicaid dollars to buy private insurance for low-income Arkansans: “Arkansas state legislative leaders are doing their best to make lemonade out of lemons, and I applaud them for taking the initiative to cope with a bad situation. However, I feel the Arkansas Plan, which can only receive temporary approval at best, is destined to worsen the fiscal outlook for our ...
During my two years in the United States Congress I have said time and time again that our nation’s debt crisis is the greatest challenge we face. As the father of two young children, it is important to me that leaders in Washington try to preserve the American dream for future generations. Ending deficit spending, paying down our $17 trillion national debt and strengthening our weak economy should be top priorities. This week the House of Representatives voted on a budget resolution that will s...
