US Senator John Boozman on Around the Table

Senator Boozman discussed Camp Jack, defense spending, the Build Back Better program, and the Recovering America's Wildlife Act.

United States Senator John Boozman joined KHOZ’s “Around the Table” program on Thursday to bring updates on the latest news from Washington D.C.

Boozman first addressed the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act which according to his office is “critical legislation that ensures our servicemembers have the tools and resources to defend our national security.” He said that the $770 billon dollar package will ensure that the US Military is well cared for. “Everything from giving our men and women their serving raises, the equivalent they’re going to need in the future,” he said, “truly modernizing our force. The technology regarding the military is evolving just like it is in every other aspect, so we have to stary current.”

He also praised Matt Russell with Camp Jack in Harrison for recently participating in a roundtable discussion with VA Secretary Denis McDonough in Fayetteville. Boozman said, “Matt Russell is doing not a good job, he’s doing a great job.” He said Camp Jack is doing particularly well with letting veterans know what services they are eligible for, and he mentioned the importance of veteran mental health. “It’s something that we’re going to be working very, very hard on. We just appreciate all the work that Matt Russell is doing and all those that are involved at Camp Jack.”

He went on to discuss the Biden Administration’s “Build Back Better” program which Boozman referred to as the “Build Back Broke” plan. While the president’s administration has touted the plan as costing nothing in new tax dollars the senator says that research has shown that the plan will cost an additional $4.9 trillion dollars. He also expressed great concern over the growing inflation that is currently at a 40 year high. “This is something that we as a nation simply have to tackle and we can do that. But, that’s what we need to be talking about instead of trying to pass this massive spending bill that won’t help the problem,” Boozman said.

Finally, Boozman talked about the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. His office says, “this bill would invest in proactive, on-the-ground conservation work in support of the long-term health of fish and wildlife habitat in Arkansas and all across the country. This is something the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has endorsed as well as more than 1,500 organizations nationwide. Senator Boozman is a cosponsor of this bill and advocated for it at a hearing last week.” Boozman said the bill’s purpose is to strengthen groups like the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to be more aggressive in preserving species, so they don’t have end up on the endangered species list.

The full interview with Senator John Boozman can be seen here or on the “Around The Table” Facebook page.