Hot Springs Chamber Officials Come to Washington
Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04)
Working closely with state and local officials is integral to representing the Fourth District in Congress well. While I regularly travel throughout the district to meet with local leaders, it’s always great to welcome them – and any Arkansans – to our nation’s capital. This week, my staff and I enjoyed hosting the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C.
From farming to health care, these industry and community leaders came ready to share more about how I can work to push their goals across the finish line on the federal level.
It was great to discuss our shared interest in putting more money back into the pockets of hardworking Arkansans. We touched on a few bills passed by House Republicans like the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Two specific provisions in the bill that were noted in our visit were the No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime. These measures have already provided great relief to hourly workers across the country, and I’m eager to continue advocating for policies that let Americans keep more of their hard-earned dollars.
Hot button topics like data centers and the growing use of AI were also covered. It was especially exciting to welcome my friend and former colleague, Rodney Davis, who now serves as the Head of Government Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to join our conversations. Rodney was able to share how the Administration is working with Congress to keep up with the growing demand for this new technology. He also emphasized the importance of protecting taxpayers from bearing the costs of data center infrastructure projects and rising electricity rates, while remaining focused on our race against China to achieve AI dominance – a race that we absolutely must win.
Another major discussion focused on increasing health care and pharmaceutical costs. With much of our national debt driven by health care, Americans have been feeling its weight for far too long. That’s why it has been a privilege to introduce the Fair Care Act during my time in Congress. This bill aims at providing transparent and fair health care for all Americans at a more affordable price. Being able to discuss the framework of this bill with folks who advocate on behalf of the health and wellbeing of Arkansans was invaluable, and I look forward to continuing to have these conversations until we can bring greater transparency and affordability to our health care system.
All of these topics and more were at the center of our productive discussions this week. From affordability to cutting burdensome red tape, it remains a privilege to work with local officials across the Fourth District, like the Hot Springs Chamber, to serve the Arkansans who contribute so greatly to the success of our beloved state.