This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Oct. 26, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your weekly look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The federal government shutdown enters a new week, and advocacy leaders in the Natural State are sharing their concerns about how the ongoing funding lapse will impact Arkansans.

The Arkansas Department of Human Services issued a warning last week regarding the lack of dollars to deliver SNAP benefits to thousands of Arkansans after Oct. 31. The state Department of Health has enough funding to support WIC — the nation's leading nutrition and health program for women and children — but only until mid-November.

STORY: Arkansas’ food assistance programs face uncertain future during shutdown

A statewide nonprofit organization has stopped accepting new cases, citing the government shutdown as the reason for the move.

Disability Rights Arkansas offers various services, including litigation assistance and investigations into abuse and neglect at health care facilities.

The organization receives federal grants to support its work, but agencies have not delivered these dollars due to the funding lapse.

STORY: Disability Rights Arkansas stops accepting new cases, blames federal shutdown

Members of Congress have been conducting some business on Capitol Hill amid the government shutdown.

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee advanced multiple bills during a business meeting last Tuesday, including legislation from Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., to expand the Flatside Wilderness Area in Central Arkansas.

STORY: U.S. Senate committee advances bills with Arkansas ties, including one for expansion of Flatside Wilderness Area

Thank you for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Oct. 19, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your weekly look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The federal government shutdown continues into a new week, but the funding lapse has not prevented Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., from announcing new legislation aimed at helping farmers.

Crawford, of Jonesboro, and Louisiana Republican Julia Letlow have introduced the Bridge the Gap for Rural Communities Act. The bill would provide farmers with the option of receiving partial payments to cover crop losses, as well as lift payment limitations for price and revenue loss programs.

The lawmakers' push comes amid discussions between the White House and Congress about potential economic assistance for farmers struggling to maintain their operations.

STORY: Crawford announces bill to provide farmers with economic relief options

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Oct. 12, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your weekly look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

The federal government shutdown continues, keeping much of Capitol Hill at a standstill.

Democrats have pushed back against a short-term spending measure from their Republican colleagues, arguing Congress must address premium tax credits for health insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

A 2021 enhancement affecting the size and eligibility criteria of these subsidies will expire at year's end without congressional action.

STORY: Government shutdown spotlights health insurance subsidies, next month’s open enrollment

While some government programs have continued during the shutdown with minimal interruptions, state agencies may not have enough funding for nutrition assistance services if the shutdown extends past October.

The nation's top nutrition programs — SNAP and WIC — are supported through the annual appropriations process. As the Senate and House of Representatives have not passed any sort of spending measure, the federal Department of Agriculture has already warned that these programs' operations are "subject to the availability of funding."

STORY: Arkansas agencies warn that food programs facing new risk

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Oct. 5, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your weekly look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

It appears the government shutdown will enter a second week as the U.S. Senate remains at a stalemate.

Republicans have pushed a continuing resolution to extend government funding through Nov. 21. Democrats, however, have put forward an alternative proposal addressing multiple policy priorities, including premium tax credits for health insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

Members of Arkansas' congressional delegation have called on their Democratic colleagues to support the short-term funding measure, concerned about how a lengthy government shutdown could impact public employees and services.

STORY: Arkansas’ congressmen continue work, meetings during government shutdown

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Sept. 28, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your weekly look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

If you recall the start of Donald Trump's second presidency, his first actions upon returning to office caused the closure of the nation's most significant agency for distributing international assistance.

The U.S. Agency for International Development had been providing foreign aid and development services for more than six decades, but the Trump administration opted to end most of its contracts and shift remaining programs to the State Department.

Thousands of people lost their jobs as a result of this change, including an Arkansan who shared her story with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Check Monday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette for the full story.

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Sept. 21, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your weekly look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

There is still time for Congress to pass a funding measure averting a government shutdown at month's end, but the chances of such an event on Oct. 1 increased last Friday.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a short-term funding measure keeping the government open through Nov. 21, but the Senate rejected this proposal and an alternative Democratic measure.

The Senate and House do not have any scheduled votes this week; both chambers are away from Capitol Hill for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

STORY: Arkansas’ federal lawmakers back spending measures, but shutdown threat still looms

When Congress resumes legislative business in Washington, lawmakers will face growing pressure to provide farmers with economic relief.

Operations in Arkansas and across the country have struggled to remain open given low crop prices and rising input costs.

During a telephone town hall last week, Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., shared a willingness to consider agricultural assistance later this year.

STORY: Arkansas Congressman French Hill open to backing financial assistance for farmers

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Sept. 14, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of Arkansas' congressional delegation were among the public officials who condemned political violence following last Wednesday's assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

STORY: Arkansas political leaders react to shooting death of Charlie Kirk

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., furthered his push for changing the federal permitting system as the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee began consideration of the SPEED Act.

Westerman, of Hot Springs, and Maine Democrat Jared Golden introduced the measure in late July. The bill aims to shorten the permitting process by, in part, limiting environmental reviews to a project's proximate impact.

Most Democratic committee members criticized the SPEED Act, arguing the measure would diminish accountability in exchange for expediting energy and infrastructure projects.

STORY: U.S. House committee considers legislation to improve federal permit process, including Westerman’s SPEED Act

Thank you for listening to this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Sept. 7, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Two Arkansas agricultural leaders spent part of last week in Washington, D.C., urging the Trump administration and Congress to take action to help farmers in the Natural State.

Joe Mencer and Andrew Grobmyer, officials with the Agricultural Council of Arkansas, participated in multiple meetings regarding possible economic assistance for producers. Mencer and Grobmyer traveled to the nation's capital as farms and other operations continue to struggle with low crop prices and elevated production costs.

The recent Republican tax and spending package made adjustments to federal agricultural programs, but farmers will not notice these changes until the fall of 2026.

STORY: Arkansas farm advocates visit Washington to call for financial aid

We are six months away from Arkansas' primary election, and candidates are already preparing their pitches to voters.

Zack Huffman, of Little Rock, is running as a Democrat in Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District. A former teacher, Huffman said he felt motivated to run for office as the Trump administration began its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.

STORY: Little Rock’s Zack Huffman seeks Democratic nomination to face Rep. French Hill in 2nd District

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!