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

Arkansas lost a political legend today when former Congressman Ray Thornton passed away at the age of 87. Ray Thornton grew up in Sheridan the child of two teachers. Ray's intellect and quick wit was evident from an early age and he graduated high school at just 16 years old. He then headed off to the University of Arkansas, eventually winning the Navy Holloway Program Scholarship to attend Yale University. After college, Ray heeded what would be the first of several calls to serve his country... Read More

When Obama administration officials sold the president's nuclear deal last summer to the American people, they were clearly sensitive to charges that they gave too much away. They knew that giving Iran $100 billion dollars we could never get back in exchange for a mere temporary deal that expired in 10 to 15 years would be viewed with deep skepticism. They knew that an inspection system that gives the ayatollahs a 24-day heads-up before an inspection would not pass the laugh test. They knew that... Read More

Six months ago, a 12-year-old boy stood before a crowd in a Syrian village not far from Aleppo. This boy was a Christian, and standing above him were Islamic State terrorists holding knives. In the crowd was the boy's father, a Christian minister. Methodically, the terrorists began cutting off the young boy's fingers. Amidst his screams, they turned to the minister, his father. If he renounced his faith and, in their terms, "returned to Islam," the boy's suffering would stop. In the end, however... Read More

I grew up on a cattle farm in Dardanelle, where I started helping my dad around the farm when I was just a little boy. In fact, I was kicking hay bales off the truck when I was barely bigger than those hay bales. Growing up, most people I knew had some kind of connection to farming. And I'm proud to say that in Arkansas, that's still mostly the case today. In honor of National Agriculture Day, I want to say few words about Arkansas's agriculture and what it means to our state. Agriculture is... Read More

Last Thursday, the Democratic candidates for president had a debate. They made several extreme, irresponsible statements about immigration policy. I oppose their calls to reward mass illegal immigration with blanket amnesty, which would undermine the rule of law, cost Americans jobs, drive down wages for working Americans, and invite more illegal immigration. But what must President Obama think? After all, he has attempted to grant amnesty by fiat to over five million illegal immigrants, though... Read More

There is a vacancy on the Supreme Court. And this chamber and the American people must fully understand what is at stake in choosing the person to fill that vacancy. For a generation, Justice Nino Scalia was the conservative heart of the Supreme Court. His passing, therefore, has the potential to dramatically shift the delicate balance of the Court. Should Justice Scalia be replaced by a philosophically liberal Justice, the implications for the rights of Americans and the direction of our nation... Read More

Today, I want to discuss the Sentencing Reform & Corrections Act that has been voted out of the Judiciary Committee. There is much debate about the wisdom of this bill. That is, like most bills we discuss in this chamber, a judgment call. But there cannot be debate over the facts of this bill. We have to be very clear on what this bill, by its own text, is designed to do. Proponents of the bill often invoke four phrases to describe the felons to be released under the terms of the bill:... Read More

Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353 I'm proud to join my fellow Senator from Arkansas, Senator John Boozman, in recognizing Senator Dale Bumpers' service today, as well as our Majority Leader and many other Senators who are reminiscing about Senator Bumpers, who passed away earlier this month. Arkansas lost one of its most distinguished public servants, when Senator and Governor Dale Bumpers, died at the age of 90. As both a Governor and Senator, Senator Bumpers' tireless dedication to our... Read More