Washington - Every fourth Thursday of November, families and friends across this great nation come together to give thanks.  We give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon this country and our lives.  We give thanks to our veterans for the many freedoms we now cherish because of their sacrifices.  And, we give thanks for the love and support of our friends and families.

Thanksgiving is a day set aside each year to recognize those who have helped make this country and our lives what they are today.  It’s a day set aside to give thanks for our many blessings.

The past few years have been tough for too many Arkansas families, which is why this year’s Thanksgiving Day is all the more special.  We have come to truly appreciate our blessings and the time we spend with our loved ones even more.  That’s why family traditions are important this time of year and few traditions are more treasured during Thanksgiving than hunting with family and friends.  

Each year I duck and deer hunt with my family and friends in some of the most beautiful places in America right here in Arkansas.  As an avid hunter and outdoorsman, I firmly believe these are traditions that must be preserved.  And, as a leader of the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus in Congress, I have and will always fight to protect our right to hunt and fish in this great country.

In the true spirit of the holiday, I also want to thank you for allowing me to represent you and serve as your voice in our nation’s capital.  I consider it one of the greatest honors of my life.  I will continue to be a strong and commonsense voice for Arkansas, always fighting to protect working families, our seniors and our Arkansas values.

I also ask that you think about and pray for our men and women in uniform and their families who will be separated this holiday season.  Thank you those who are serving and to our veterans for all that you do.

I feel fortunate to live in a nation that has so much for which to be thankful.  God continues to bless this country and each and every year we offer our thanks to him on this day for his many blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving.



A fifth generation Arkansan, Congressman Mike Ross of Prescott represents the Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Ross serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and serves as the ranking member of the U.S. Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, an association of lawmakers from each of the NATO-member countries.  Ross is also Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, Co-Chair of the Second Amendment Task Force and Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative Democratic House members that advocates the principles of fiscal responsibility and government accountability.