Week of May 18, 2025

Welcome to "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of May 18, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions. Reconciliation work remained the talk of Capitol Hill as House Republicans continued to put together a plan combining spending cuts with an extension of the 2017 tax cuts. Away from the nation's capital, a group of Arkansans celebrated President Donald Trump's plans to ease sanctions on Syria. The United States placed sanctions on Syria amid former President Bashar Assad's atrocities against the Syrian people. The Syrian Emergency Task Force — a nonprofit organization with offices in Washington and Little Rock — has been an instrumental force in raising awareness of Assad's actions and leading humanitarian efforts in the war-torn nation. Members of the task force recently traveled to Damascus to meet with top Syrian officials, including interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, to discuss the country's future. STORY: Arkansans see 'new possibilities' for Syria following U.S. plans to end sanctions One Arkansas farmer provided senators with insight into the importance of agriculture conservation programs. Arkansas Farm Bureau board member Brad Doyle testified before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee about these federal initiatives as farmers and other producers wait to see if Congress will approve a new Farm Bill later this year. STORY: Arkansas agriculture leader discusses conservation funding during U.S. Senate hearing Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., watched the House of Representatives approve his latest bill to expand the Flatside Wilderness Area in Central Arkansas. Hill, of Little Rock, has been pushing legislation to expand protections for more than nearby 2,200 acres, which would limit construction and other human activities in this space. STORY: U.S. House approves Hill legislation expanding Flatside Wilderness Thank you for checking out this week's episode of "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for developments from the nation's capital!