Our great state is home to beautiful rolling hills and scenic, winding highways. There’s also certainly an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, as well. After all, they don’t call it the Natural State for nothing. But this abundance of vast natural beauty also means that our state isn’t made up of big cities with sky high buildings and a bustling city life. No, Arkansas is largely made up of rural communities. These rural communities we call home provide opportunities for a way of life unavailable in the big cities but cherished by most who have experienced it. Just as rural life provides wonderful opportunities, it also comes with unique challenges such as communications and healthcare.

Driving across the stately Ouachita and Ozark mountains, through the Arkansas River Valley, across the piney woods and the delta, and everywhere in between, locals who live in these parts know that their best chance at receiving up-to-date news and weather bulletins is often on the radio. Other rural communities across the country are also aware of how vital radio is to their livelihood, which is why the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 was introduced earlier this year. As a proud cosponsor of this bill, it is well-understood the importance of ensuring that AM radio is maintained in vehicles even though several car manufacturers are trying to move away from maintaining AM broadcast radio in their modernized automobiles. 

Not only is receiving timely news a contributor to the challenges rural Arkansans face, the ever-present need for effective healthcare is always a concern for those living in under-resourced areas. Congress must work toward passing commonsense legislation that works for the families and individuals who require and deserve timely, reliable, and quality health care. Rural hospitals play a crucial role in the well-being of these individuals which is why it was a privilege to cosponsor the Rural Health Care Technical Assistance Act last week. This bill will codify and expand a current United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that is responsible for providing vital assistance to rural health care facilities, works toward preventing hospital closures, strengthens needed health care services in rural communities, and bolsters the stability of these institutions.

As a representative of one of the more rural congressional districts in our country, I know firsthand just how vital it is for Congress to work toward passing commonsense legislation that works for the families and individuals in these under-resourced communities – not legislation that keeps them further from resources Americans in urban areas have every-day access to. The vast majority of our nation is built upon these vibrant communities, and the Arkansas Congressional Delegation will certainly continue to work with House Republicans to continue serving rural America.