Economy

Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) issued the following statement after the House passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that will fund the government at current levels while blocking the use of funding for the implementation of ObamaCare: “The House has now done its part to represent the will of the American people by stopping any further implementation of ObamaCare. This law is a job-killing train wreck that will add $1.3 trillion to the debt over the next 10 years. Families, small businesses, and ... Read more

On Friday, the Obama Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it would, for the first time in history, propose regulations that would limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, including requiring coal-burning plants to capture roughly 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. This is the first major action from the Administration since it indicated that it would begin rolling out a climate-change agenda circumventing Congress a few short weeks ago. At that time... Read more

Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) issued the following statement in anticipation of a vote to authorize use of force in Syria on the House floor next week: "Barring a major change in events, I have decided to vote against the resolution authorizing the President to conduct military operations in Syria. President Obama has done little to build a broad and solid coalition, nor has he articulated clear and meaningful objectives. Absent a well-planned, comprehensive strategy for this region, I cannot... Read more

Earlier this summer, I received the Benjamin Franklin Award from the 60-Plus Association in recognition of my support for estate tax repeal. Although I am honored to have the association’s support, I believe with a little common sense in Washington this award would be made obsolete, much like the death tax itself. This measure is a punitive tax that hurts job growth in Arkansas, particularly in agriculture, and has long overstayed its necessity after first being introduced nearly 100 years ago. ... Read more

In the debate over immigration reform that is the hot topic in Washington, one important element has been notably absent from the discussion surrounding these reforms: homeland security. Last week, I joined a congressional tour beginning in San Diego and working east to Texas with several of my colleagues, led by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul. While my views on amnesty and reforming our broken guest worker system have not changed, this trip opened my eyes to the urgent nee... Read more

This year Washington has been riddled with scandals, undermining the public’s trust in government while distracting from pressing issues like a ballooning national debt, a stagnated economy, and the millions of jobless Americans. The Administration has taken a defensive posture, choosing to deflect blame without holding Administration officials fully accountable for their actions. Sadly, this further inflames the tense relationship between the people and their government, in a time where we need... Read more

Arkansas’ First District is one of the nation’s leading producers of steel products, notably high-strength pipe used in the energy industry, or “Oil Country Tubular Goods” (OCTG). Unfortunately, when foreign manufacturers flood our markets with unfairly priced products, a practice called “dumping,” it is Arkansas that often feels a disproportionate amount of pain. This unfair trade practice is now threatening jobs here at home. Manufacturers of OCTG products in Blytheville and Hickman, including... Read more

Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) issued the following statement after President Obama traveled to Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, to deliver an address announcing the Administration’s pivot back to job creation as a priority issue: “Although I welcome the President’s renewed focus on repairing our struggling economy, I wish he had never let his focus wander in the first place. My colleagues and I have been hard at work all year passing bills that will cut red tape, reduce the deficit, and c... Read more

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act is a piece of legislation Congress reauthorizes every five years that sets education policy for our country, outlining priorities and initiating reforms when needed. The current piece of legislation, also known as No Child Left Behind, has been due for reauthorization since 2007. There is increasing agreement on both sides of the aisle that this law is outdated and no longer serves the needs of public schoolteachers and students nationwide. The House is... Read more

Last week, the Obama Administration announced it would delay the “employer mandate” portion of ObamaCare, set to kick in on January 1, 2014, for one year. This law will have serious ramifications for individuals, insurers, and the overall health of the economy that we cannot afford. This delay is the Administration’s attempt to address many of the underlying problems I have already outlined with the law and its implementation – but it falls short of what our nation truly needs. A delay of one ye... Read more