So, it’s February 15. By law, the president is required to submit a budget to Congress by the first Monday of this month. That was over a week ago. Now, this being a new administration, we expect them to be a few weeks late, as has typically happened in recent times. The difference this year, though, is that President Trump still doesn’t have a budget director. We’re four weeks into his presidency, and we’re only just now getting around to confirming his nominee. For... Read More

Our tax code is a mess—no one voted for it, no one wants it, no one likes it. I’ve said many times we should eliminate all the special-interest loopholes in the code and use that money to cut taxes for everybody—including American businesses. We want to encourage them to invest, grow, and create more jobs right here in America. I know my colleagues are working on a tax bill, and I want to stress how much I support their efforts. I’ll of course withhold judgments on any... Read More

Thank you all very much for that kind welcome. Thank you, Fred, and thank you to the American Enterprise Institute for once again hosting me, especially in the new digs - very nice. I'm looking forward to our discussion later today, first with Fred and me and then with all of you. But, at the outset, I want to offer some opening remarks about where we are, how we got here, and how we can begin to renew America's strength. Some people, especially those in the media and the Democratic Party, are... Read More

My home state of Arkansas lost one of its great statesmen last week with the passing of former state senator Stanley Russ. Stanley was a man of the soil. Born in Conway, he grew up on a dairy farm just outside the city. He went through the public-school system and earned a degree in agriculture from the University of Arkansas. And though he spent the bulk of his career in the life-insurance business, he continued to raise cattle over the years. Even when he was an old man, you could find him... Read More

Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353 or Dylan Haney (501) 223-9081 Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) this week recognized James Ross, of Cotter, Arkansas, as "Arkansan of the Week." You can find the full text of Senator Cotton's recognition on the Senate Floor below. A video of Senator Cotton's remarks can be viewed here. Today, I would like to recognize James A. Ross, of Cotter, Arkansas as this week's "Arkansan of the Week," for exemplifying what it means to be a great... Read More

The world may be more unstable than ever. The security architecture that we built after World War II is at risk. Our parents and grandparents fought to keep the world free from a conflict between major powers. They created order out of the chaos of world war and genocide. They protected our freedom and ensured that our democratic ideals would be the dominant power in the world. The foundation of that order is the U.S. military. Since they toppled Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, they held firm... Read More

Society of the Honor GuardTomb of the Unknown Soldier Banquet Thank you. Thank you very much for that kind introduction and thank you all for the warm welcome. It's so good to be back with my old battle buddies from The Old Guard. I want to thank Tom Tudor, partly for extending me the honor of speaking here tonight, but mostly for your many years of service to our country, to the Tomb, and to the Society. I nearly didn't make it tonight. A few days ago, my dad's best friend, Jack Shatford,... Read More

"Today the United States Senate will pass legislation renaming Post Office 620 Central Avenue in Hot Springs National Park after Chief Petty Officer Adam Brown. I have driven through that post office many times as a child, as a Congressman, and as a Senator. I can't say there is all that much remarkable about it, but it will be remarkable after this law is passed. I didn't know Adam Brown, but Adam was about my age. Adam was a great warrior and a hero. Three years ago on Memorial Day in Hot... Read More

Today, I want to talk about the brave men and women who put their lives on the line each day to keep us safe: law enforcement officers. Last month, I spent much of my time meeting with various law enforcement agencies across Arkansas. In the wake of the shooting in Dallas and other violence against police officers, I wanted Arkansas's law enforcement officers to know that I support them and that Arkansans support them. And I wanted to learn a little more about what life looks like from their... Read More

Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353 or Dylan Haney (501) 223-9081 Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) this week recognized Jess Forster of Little Rock, Arkansas as "Arkansan of the Week," for her work as the K-8 Director at eStem Public Charter Schools in Little Rock. You can find the full text of Senator Cotton's recognition on the Senate Floor below. A video of Senator Cotton's remarks can be viewed here. I would like to recognize Jess Forster, of Little Rock, as this week's... Read More

Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353 or Dylan Haney (501) 223-9081 Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) this week recognized Sheila Beatty of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas as "Arkansan of the Week," for her dedication and service to Arkansas veterans. You can find the full text of Senator Cotton's recognition on the Senate Floor below. A video of Senator Cotton's remarks can be viewed here. I would like to recognize Sheila Beatty, of Hot Springs Village as this week's "Arkansan... Read More

Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353 or Dylan Haney (501) 223-9081 Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) this week recognized Marvin Williams as "Arkansan of the Week" for his work as the UCAN Coordinator and Academic Advisor at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. You can find the full text of Senator Cotton's recognition on the Senate Floor below. A video of Senator Cotton's remarks can be viewed here. I would like to recognize Marvin Williams as this week's "Arkansan... Read More

Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353 or Dylan Haney (501) 223-9081 Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) this week recognized Kim Carter, of Hot Springs, Arkansas as the "Arkansan of the Week" for her commitment to ensuring Arkansas children have the love and support they deserve. You can find the full text of Senator Cotton's recognition on the Senate Floor below. A video of Senator Cotton's remarks can be viewed here. I would like to recognize Kim Carter, of Hot Springs,... Read More

Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353 or Dylan Haney (501) 223-9081 Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) this week recognized Patrick Combs, of Hot Springs, Arkansas as the "Arkansan of the Week" for inspiring Arkansas students through his love of music. You can find the full text of Senator Cotton's recognition on the Senate Floor below. A video of Senator Cotton's remarks can be viewed here. I would like to recognize Patrick Combs, of Hot Springs, Arkansas as this week's... Read More

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting the Mid-Arkansas River Valley Abilities Workshop, better known as MARVA, in Russellville, Arkansas, just over the bridge from my hometown of Dardanelle. For more than 40 years, MARVA has provided individuals with developmental disabilities meaningful work in a supportive environment and given them access to a variety of social services. Those employed at MARVA produce and sell, for example, top-quality recyclables, planners, and calendars. My... Read More

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank the Ranking Member, Senator Blumenthal. And I would like the thank Senator Murray and Senator Hirono for the chance to appear before you today. I'm here today to discuss my legislation, the Charles Duncan Buried with Honor Act, which would expand the cemetery burial options offered by the VA to financially insolvent veterans.  I want to begin by telling you the story about the bill's namesake, Mr. Charles Duncan, a Navy veteran from Little Rock,... Read More

On September 2, 1939, the House of Commons convened to debate whether to declare war on Germany for having invaded Poland. Surprisingly to many, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain seemed ambivalent and didn't immediately call for a declaration. Clement Atlee, the Labor Party leader, was absent. When his deputy rose and declared he would "speak for Labor," Conservative MP Leo Amery famously yelled from across the floor, "Speak for England!" I am here today to speak for England, for Great Britain,... Read More

I'm honored to be here to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Georgia's independence. When Georgia declared its independence from the Soviet Union, it may have appeared to the outside world as if the Georgian people were emerging from a long sleep. But that perception would've been wrong. During the seventy years of Soviet rule, the Georgian people were not sleeping-they were waiting-waiting to throw off the brutal yoke of totalitarian oppression. You were a resilient people. Your culture... Read More

This past Sunday, thousands of law-enforcement officers, their families, and other supporters gathered at the Capitol to observe Peace Officers Memorial Day. Every speech given, every tribute paid, and every prayer offered was a poignant reminder: public safety and order in our country often come at a high cost. Law and order in our communities doesn't arise spontaneously; men are not angels, after all. Police officers put the badge on every morning, not knowing for sure if they'll come home at... Read More

This week, I encourage Arkansans and all Americans to take a moment and enjoy your local national parks as we celebrate National Park Week 2016. This year, National Park Week is particularly important because it also happens to be the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service-a milestone that we will celebrate all year long. For those of you who don't know, our National Park System began in 1872 with the establishment of Yellowstone National Park. The organization charged with managing... Read More