Steve Womack RSS Articles

Womack Statement on the Passage of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the following statement tonight after the House passed H.R. 3 to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline by removing the requirement for a presidential permit, granting the additional federal permits required for the project, and limiting the legal challenges that can be brought regarding the pipeline’s construction:

“In the 1,706 days since TransCanada submitted its Keystone XL application to the U.S. Department of State, President Obama has supported an energy agenda that has delayed, restricted, and regulated Americans’ access to affordable energy. Keystone XL will create jobs, grow our economy, and support the all-of-the-above energy policy about which the President often preaches but rarely supports with meaningful actions, and enough is enough. It’s time to build the pipeline.”

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Womack Statement on the Repeal of Obamacare

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 45 to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care-related provisions in the Health Care Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010:

“We all remember Nancy Pelosi’s infamous words: “we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” Well, it’s been over three years since President Obama signed the so-called Affordable Care Act into law, and now know that the bill’s 2,700 pages have turned into over 20,000 pages of new regulations, have created $800 billion in new taxes, have raised premiums by 200 percent, and have put 3.2 million jobs at risk. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This law will only continue to slow economic growth, result in job losses, and cause health care costs to skyrocket. Today, I proudly voted in favor of repealing Obamacare outright. Hardworking Americans deserve real health care reforms that lower costs, give access to coverage for everyone, and improve the quality of care – not this train wreck.”

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Womack, Speier Thank Senate, Urge House to Pass Marketplace Fairness

Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Representatives Steve Womack (AR-3) and Jackie Speier (CA-12) congratulated the Senate today for passing the Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 743/H.R. 684) and urged their House colleagues to quickly do the same and finally level the playing field for American businesses.

Under current law, brick-and-mortar retailers are required to collect sales and use taxes from customers who make purchases in their stores, but many online and catalog retailers do not have to collect the same taxes. Consumers now use brick-and-mortar stores as showrooms and then buy the product online to avoid the tax – a tax that is still owed by the consumer but rarely paid. S. 743/H.R. 684 gives states the option of requiring out-of-state sellers to collect sales and use taxes – rather than relying on consumers to remit those taxes – if states simplify their sales and use tax systems.

“After twenty years, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for our brick-and-mortar businesses, and today’s bipartisan Senate vote to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act has given even more momentum to close this tax loophole once and for all. Saving local retail business depends on it, and I – along with Arkansas’s Main Streets – am grateful for the Senate’s leadership on and dedication to this issue. Now, it’s up to the House to act, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure we do so before it’s too late,” said Womack.

“It is time for the government to get out of the business of picking retail winners and losers. My colleagues pay a lot of lip service in support of small business; the Marketplace Fairness Act is a way for them to step up and actually do something. Let’s not wait until more businesses go under because of unfair online competition. This is not a new tax, the technology is there, and it is time for the House to act,” said Speier.

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Womack Statement on Senate Vote to Invoke Cloture on Marketplace Fairness Act

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the following statement after today’s Senate vote to invoke cloture and end debate on the Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 743):

“I’m extremely encouraged by the growing recognition that this unfair and outdated tax loophole is killing our Main Streets, and I applaud the Senate for invoking cloture on the Marketplace Fairness Act. As the Senate moves forward to actually debate this bipartisan, bicameral, common-sense solution, I am hopeful that any changes made will address Chairman Goodlatte’s concerns and give it the best shot at being taken up in our chamber.”

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2013 Congressional Art Competition Submissions Due Next Week

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Steve Womack’s district offices are currently accepting submissions for the 2013 Congressional Art Competition. This competition is open to high school students only. Exceptions may be made for schools that have 7^th through 12^th grades on one campus.

All entries are due next week and must be submitted to a district office by its respective deadline. The artwork will then be made available for public viewing at the Bentonville Downtown Activity Center from Monday, April 29, 2013, to Friday, May 3, 2013.

Rogers	Fort Smith	Harrison
Friday, April 26, 2013 5:00 PM CDT	Thursday, April 25, 2013 5:00 PM CDT	Thursday, April 25, 2013 5:00 PM CDT

On Wednesday, May 1, 2013, Congressman Womack will host an awards presentation, where he will announce the finalists. This will also be held at the Bentonville Downtown Activity Center.

For additional information on the competition itself, click here.

Questions? Please call (479) 464-0446.

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U.S. Chamber Honors Congressman Womack with Spirit of Enterprise Award

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today presented Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) with the annual Spirit of Enterprise Award for his support of pro-jobs, pro-growth policies during the second session of the 112^th Congress.

“In the face of high-stakes politics and difficult choices, Congressman Womack provided America’s job creators with a strong voice in Congress,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. “This award recognizes Congressman Womack for consistently demonstrating his support for pro-growth policies.”

The Chamber’s prestigious Spirit of Enterprise Award, in its 25^th year, is given annually to members of Congress based on key business issues outlined in the Chamber publication How They Voted. Members who support the Chamber’s position on at least 70% of those votes qualify to receive the award.

According to the scorecard, Congressman Womack received a 100% rating with the Chamber this year and collectively holds a 100% ranking during his tenure in Congress.

The Chamber scored Congress on 8 Senate and 12 House votes in 2012, including reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the establishment of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia, and the reauthorization of surface transportation legislation. Also scored were votes to repeal onerous provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, improve the process by which regulations are promulgated, and better secure the United States from cyber threats.

To view a complete list of the 2012 Spirit of Enterprise recipients, please visit www.uschamber.com/soe.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers.

www.uschamber.com @USChamber www.freeenterprise.com

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Womack, Speier Join Small Businesses to Call on House to Pass Marketplace Fairness Act

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

With the U.S. Senate’s recent vote showing overwhelming support of the Marketplace Fairness Act, the original sponsors of H.R. 684 today joined a group of small business owners from across the country to urge members of Congress to support the Marketplace Fairness Act (H.R. 684).

Under current law, while brick-and-mortar retailers collect sales and use taxes from customers who make purchases in their stores, many online and catalog retailers do not collect the same taxes. H.R. 684 empowers states to have the option of requiring out-of-state sellers to collect sales and use taxes – rather than rely on consumers to remit those taxes – if states simplify their sales and use tax systems.

After the press conference, the members released the following statements:

“The time has come to close the 20 year old tax loophole that has put the federal government in the business of picking marketplace winners and losers. Our Main Streets aren’t asking for special treatment, just simply for an honest chance to compete against their online counterparts instead of having to play by two different rulebooks,” said Womack. “The Senate’s vote showed what we already knew: there is strong, bipartisan support for the Marketplace Fairness Act. Now, the House must take up this bill and get this done once and for all.”

“Congress talks a good story about protecting small businesses – here's a chance to really do something. The Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 represents a fair and workable solution for both brick-and-mortar and online retailers and for our local communities,” said Speier. “The Internet marketplace is no longer in its infancy. It’s time for our tax laws to catch up with the modern marketplace and take government out of picking retail winners and losers.”

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Womack Announces 2013 Academy Days

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has announced the 2013 Academy Days schedule. Young men and women in the Third District who are interested in pursuing appointments to the United States Service Academies, as well as those interested in ROTC scholarships, are encouraged to attend.

Fort Smith

Bentonville

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

5:30 – 7:30 PM CDT
188^th Fighter Wing
Civil Engineering Complex, Building #450
4850 Leigh Avenue
Fort Smith, AR 72903

Thursday, May 2, 2013
5:30 – 7:30 PM CDT
Armed Forces Reserve Center
Assembly Hall/Auditorium
6800 Southwest Minuteman Avenue
Bentonville, AR 72712

For additional information, please click here.

Questions? Please call my Fort Smith office at (479) 424-1146.

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Bipartisan Group of Legislators Introduce RFS Reform Act

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Reps. Steve Womack (R-AR), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement today regarding the introduction of the RFS Reform Act in the U.S. House of Representatives:

“The RFS debate is no longer just a debate about fuel or food. It is also a debate about jobs, small business, and economic growth. The federal government’s creation of an artificial market for the ethanol industry has quite frankly triggered a domino effect that is hurting American consumers, energy producers, livestock producers, food manufacturers, and retailers. The broad coalition of organizations supporting this legislation echo the same sentiment: the RFS is not working.”

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates that 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels be part of our nation’s fuel supply by 2022. Almost all of this is currently being fulfilled by corn ethanol. In 2011, five billion bushels of the corn supply was used for ethanol – equal to nearly 40 percent of the U.S. corn crop. While the RFS is causing food prices to go up, the RFS has not provided relief for consumers at the pump. In fact, citing the RFS, the EPA is setting the target for refiners to blend cellulosic biofuels into gasoline higher than the amount of cellulosic biofuels that exists. When these non-existent fuels cannot be blended refiners are financially penalized, which ultimately gets passed on to consumers at the pump.

“The RFS Reform Act will eliminate corn-based ethanol requirements, cap the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10 percent, and require the EPA to set cellulosic biofuels levels at production levels. Renewable fuels play an important role in our energy policy but should compete fairly in the marketplace. This legislation will bring the fundamental reform this unworkable federal policy needs now.”

The RFS Reform Act is supported by a diverse group of more than 40 organizations, including ActionAid USA, the American Frozen Food Institute, the American Meat Institute, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Environmental Working Group, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Milk Producers Council, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Chicken Council, the National Council of Chain Restaurants, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the National Restaurant Association, the National Taxpayers Union, the National Turkey Federation, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, and Taxpayers for Commonsense.

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Womack Statement on President Obama's Budget

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the following statement today after the President submitted his fiscal year 2014 budget request to Congress more than nine weeks after the February 4, 2013, statutory deadline:

“Overdue and out of touch. That’s exactly what the President’s budget is. Instead of recognizing the reality of our country’s finances, he calls for more spending and more taxes in a budget that never balances. Hardworking Americans in the Third District, throughout Arkansas, and all over the country balance their budgets; we owe it to them to do the same in Washington.

“While I’m encouraged by the small steps taken to address the true drivers of our deficits and debt – mandatory and entitlement spending – they are not nearly enough. It’s my hope that President Obama joins Republicans at the table to find common ground and a real solution to our fiscal crisis rather than insisting on policies that will only continue to inhibit job creation and impede our economy’s recovery.”

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