Washington, D.C.—Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement on the Army's decision to charge Bowe Berghdal with desertion and misbehavior in the face of the enemy: "The Army's decision to charge Bowe Bergdahl with desertion and misbehavior in the face of the enemy underscores how misguided and dangerous it was for President Obama to trade five hardened Taliban commanders for Bergdahl in the first place.  Regardless of his conduct, the United States... Read More

  Washington, D.C.— Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement in response to President Obama's announcement that he plans to keep the current number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan through the end of the year:  "I support President Obama's decision to maintain current troop levels in Afghanistan through the end of the year, but I fear that number may already be too low. And as the President considers his new drawdown strategy for 2016, I urge him... Read More

  Washington, D.C.— Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today offered an amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution affirming the United States' support for Israel at the United Nations. "The alliance between the United States and Israel is an alliance between the American people and the Israeli people, between the ultimate defender of the West and the eastern-most frontier of the West. As such, Congress is committed to ensuring the United States continues to defend Israel in the United... Read More

  WASHINGTON -U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) along with Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) today announced that Mountain Top Public Water Authority in Heber Springs is the recipient of a $114,000 grant and $243,000 loan to extend water service to new users. Campbell Station will receive a $5,000 grant to begin correcting problems with its wastewater lift station and pumps. "Infrastructure is a critical component to providing citizens the services we rely... Read More

Washington, D.C.-Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Guantanamo Bay Recidivism Prevention Act of 2015, legislation that would improve the monitoring of former Guantanamo Bay detainees transferred to foreign countries. "President Obama seems to have little concern for what happens after a detainee leaves Guantanamo Bay. But these detainees are hardened terrorists and their release puts U.S. lives and our national-security interests at risk. The numbers don't lie: almost one in... Read More

Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (Arkansas) along with fellow freshman Senators James Lankford (Oklahoma), Joni Ernst (Iowa), Thom Tillis (North Carolina), and Mike Rounds (South Dakota) this evening returned from a trip to the Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Senators toured the Guantanamo Bay base, observed detention operations, and met with military commanders. "First, the Servicemembers stationed at Guantanamo Bay have a difficult job. They are true patriots who deserve our... Read More

Washington, D.C.— Senator Tom Cotton released the following statement on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' (ATF) decision to withdraw a proposedban on ammunition used in the AR-15 rifle:  "I am pleased with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' decision not to pursue a proposed ban at this time, but rest assured I will remain a vigilant defender of Arkansans' Second Amendment rights. I commend... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today announced that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has signed on to the open letter to the Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran about the ongoing nuclear negotiations between their country and the United States. An updated PDF of the official letter is available here. The text of the letter can be found below. An Open Letter to the Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran: It has come to our attention while observing your nuclear... Read More

  WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy about the agency's pending carbon regulations for existing power plants. In addition to expressing his opposition to the pending regulations, Senator Cotton also outlines his concern over how the EPA arrived at certain cost impacts of their regulations.  The letter reads, in part: In reviewing the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) prepared by the... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) along with 46 of his Republican colleagues in the Senate will today release an open letter to the the Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran about the ongoing nuclear negotiations between their country and the United States. A PDF of the official letter can be found here.  The  text of the letter can be found below:    An Open Letter to the Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran:   It has come to our attention... Read More

Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (AR) and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) this week introduced the Veterans Heritage Firearms Act of 2015, legislation that would create a 180-day amnesty period for veterans or their family members to register firearms acquired overseas before October 31, 1968 without facing any prosecution. "Our World War II and Korean War Veterans risked their lives in foreign lands in defense of our freedoms. These firearms represent the... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Tom Cotton (R-AR) and 21 of their colleagues questioned U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) Director Dan Ashe regarding the agency's consideration of the Northern Long-Eared Bat's (NLEB) addition to the endangered species list. These bats can be found across the entire state of Arkansas, and activities throughout most of our state could be impacted by the current proposals from the Service. A poorly-designed plan to protect the bat... Read More

Washington, D.C.-Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after voting to override the President's veto of legislation approving the Keystone XL Pipeline, which failed by a vote of 62-37: "Today, Senate Democrats once again put politics ahead of best interests of the American people. Their refusal to override the President's veto is nothing more than an attempt to appease their liberal allies. But Arkansans and Americans know the Keystone XL Pipeline is a win for our... Read More

Washington, D.C.— Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to a Joint Meeting of Congress this morning: "I am happy to welcome a truly courageous leader to address the Congress today.  There is no one better equipped to discuss the danger posed by a nuclear Iran than Prime Minister Netanyahu. For decades, Iran has had as its expressed goal for Israel to be 'wiped off the face of the earth' and has been a lead... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and a bipartisan group of 15 Senate cosponsors called Monday for strong action after the murder of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov Friday in Moscow. Johnson, Shaheen and their cosponsors introduced a resolution laying out the known facts not only relating to Nemtsov's work on behalf of freedom and human rights but to the violent deaths suffered by other critics of the Putin... Read More

  Washington, D.C.— Yesterday, Senator Tom Cotton introduced S. 595, the Hunter and Farmer Protection Act, legislation that would protect farmers from federal penalties levied under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act if they are following best practices provided by their state Cooperative Extension Office. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the government has the authority to regulate hunting seasons for some protected species and prohibit certain actions in... Read More

  WASHINGTON -U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) along with Congressman French Hill (AR-02) today announced that Pulaski and Faulkner counties are the recipients of a $96,000 grant to help disaster recovery efforts from the 2014 EF4 tornado. "Citizens of Pulaski and Faulkner counties are working together to rebuild and recover from the devastating impact of this disaster. These funds are an important step in the process to continue clean-up efforts and protect... Read More

Washington, D.C. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement on today's vote on Department of Homeland Security funding: "President Obama's immigration executive order is unlawful and a blatant abuse of his Constitutional authority. Congress must do everything in its power to make sure it's stopped-not reward the President and Senate Democrats for playing politics with our national security. We should fully fund the Department of Homeland Security and we should stand with... Read More

Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement on President Obama's veto of legislation approving the Keystone XL Pipeline: "President Obama's veto of a bipartisan bill approving the Keystone XL Pipeline is regrettable. But what's more concerning is his continued tendency to put his liberal allies ahead of America's best interests. Arkansans and all Americans deserve better. The Keystone XL Pipeline would lower energy costs for all Arkansans, create and... Read More

  Washington, D.C.— Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement applauding Wal-Mart's announcement of a $1 billion investment in its employees:   "Arkansans learn at an early age that success can't be achieved alone and you should thank those who help you get there along the way. Wal-Mart's decision to raise wages for all current employees in the United States illustrates Arkansas values at the company's core. Similarly, their new employee training... Read More