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Patrick C. Harris, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Tracey D. Montaño, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Division, and Phyllis G. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)—Office of Inspector General, announced today that Chief United States District Judge Brian S. Miller sentenced Rhonda Williams, 50, and her husband, Gary Williams, 59, both of Des Arc, Arkansas, to prison for their role in a scheme to steal money intended for use by the Cotton Plant Housing Authority

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced the conviction of an Izard County man for property theft by deception. Clifton Davis pleaded guilty in Pulaski County Circuit Court and was sentenced to five years probation and to pay $5,232 in restitution to the Arkansas Medicaid Program, $500 in fines and court costs

U.S. Representatives Rick Crawford (AR-01), French Hill (AR-02), Steve Womack (AR-03) and Bruce Westerman (AR-04) and U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced legislation to restore the right of states to approve or disapprove of electric transmission projects before the federal government exercises its power to take private property

Legislation that includes language similar to a bill introduced by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) was signed into law ensuring that important veterans housing programs that were set to expire today continue

The House passed H.R. 5303, Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA). WRDA would authorize twenty-eight important Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works projects across the country. The bill addresses the needs of America's harbors, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water-related infrastructure.

Congressman French Hill (AR-02) will join representatives from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas for a “wall-raising” event and check presentation at 8:15 a.m. Friday, August 12 at 29 Purdue Circle in Little Rock, Arkansas. The media is encouraged to attend.

Congressman French Hill (AR-02) sent Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Bob McDonald a letter awarding the VA with the Golden Fleece Award for the mishandling of the $8 million solar panel project at the Little Rock VA Medical Center.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released its report on the VA Green Management Program Solar Panel Projects. The report was completed at the request of Senator John Boozman (AR) and Congressman French Hill (AR-02) following a 2015 news report that the Little Rock VA Medical Center tore down solar panels at the facility that had sat there for two years without ever being turned on.

U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Lisa Murkowski and (R-AK) and Jon Tester (D-MT) are leading a bipartisan effort urging Senate and House Armed Services Committee leadership to protect dual-military families, women and junior members of the Armed Forces. Boozman, Murkowski and Tester are joined by 15 Senators urging FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conferees to eliminate changes to the military’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) in the final version of the bill

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3), Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1), Congressman French Hill (AR-2), Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-4), and Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-1) released the following statements after the Assuring Private Property Rights Over Vast Access to Land (APPROVAL) Act (H.R. 3062) today passed out of the House Committee on Natural Resources by a vote of 19-11.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge disagreed with today’s decision from the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which essentially denies residents of San Diego County, California, the right of possession of a concealed handgun for self-defense outside the home.

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, applauded committee passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016. The bill was reported out of committee by a vote of 19 to 1 last week.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge joined eight other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case, Murr v. Wisconsin, which is challenging uncompensated regulatory takings of private property. The brief urges the Court to reject a new judicially created rule that would allow government too much latitude to heavily regulate land without properly compensating property owners.

Residents of 11 Arkansas counties who suffered damage from the severe storms of December – January have only until Tuesday, April 5, 2016 to register for federal disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration