Governor Asa Hutchinson's Weekly Address: Recent Episodes
Governor Asa Hutchinson
As 2022 comes to an end, I have been reflecting on my time as Governor and looking forward to what is ahead.
In January, I announced my W.I.N.S. initiative for my final year as Governor. Each letter in W.I.N.S. stands for a pillar that I have focused on to boost Arkansas to success. Workforce Training, Infrastructure, New Economy Jobs, and Strengthening Arkansas Families all aim to push Arkansas to being the best place the state can be – and help Arkansas WIN.
Arkansas has continually grown economically over the past eight years. Thanks to the people of Arkansas, we have made this state one of the premier locations for business owners to put their roots down and conduct business that gives well-paying jobs to hard-working Arkansans and puts more money into our state.
As this year and my term is coming to an end, Arkansas has never been in better financial shape than we are right now. We have lowered taxes, funded services, and we have over $2 billion in reserve accounts.
Even in the face of a pandemic, the state’s economy, like Arkansans themselves, remained resilient. In 2021, Arkansas was ranked number two in the nation for states with the most pandemic-proof small businesses. That speaks not only to the hard work of business owners who have chosen to live in Arkansas, but to the small business environment, workforce support, and resource access our state’s infrastructure had in place, ready to help small businesses.
Arkansas small businesses were rightfully ranked as having the greatest potential to bounce back because they had the least to bounce back from. Arkansas never shut down throughout the pandemic. Our state kept working, and our consistently low unemployment rate over the past few years reflects that. In fact, there are over 120,000 more people employed now than when I took office in January 2015.
The future success of our state demands that we improve the training of our workforce. Now with initiatives like the ‘Ready for Life’ program, it is easier for employees and employers to find each other, and it will offer business leaders a quick snapshot of the employee pool in Arkansas as they recruit talent.
Our infrastructure is the backbone of everyday operations in this state, and it is worth investing in to create a better quality of living. That is why we have invested almost $500 million in rural broadband expansion in our state.
In terms of new economy jobs, we expanded our high-tech jobs from the steel industry to software development, and this growth will continue with the recommendations from the Council on Future Mobility Report.
Lastly, but certainly not least of the pillars of my W.I.N.S. initiative – strengthening Arkansas families. Over the past year, my focus has been to give families the best chance of success and to protect Arkansas children from child abuse and crime.
In November, I announced a monumental expansion in rural health services with the ARHOME Medicaid program. Thanks to the great work of the teams at the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Life360 HOMEs will address the complex challenges facing many of Arkansas’s most vulnerable residents, including individuals in rural areas with serious mental illness and those in need of addiction services. I look forward to watching the full potential of this transformative program as it unfolds in the months and years to come.
As we conclude 2022, I am grateful for the W.I.N.S. we have had this year in improving our workforce, investing in our infrastructure, creating new economy jobs, and strengthening Arkansas families.
On behalf of the state of Arkansas, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season.
Christmas is my favorite time of year in the Natural State, especially in the halls of the Arkansas State Capitol.
During the month of December, student choirs travel from all over the state to sing in the rotunda in the center of the Capitol. Their songs echo to the ceiling and can be heard in all corners of the building. The beauty of their voices reminds me of the verse in Scripture about the angel and the multitude of heavenly hosts filling the sky and praising God at the birth of Jesus.
That’s what this season is all about. Despite the shopping, the crowds, and the stress, it is all about the birth in Bethlehem that changed the world.
This Christmas is a particularly special one as it marks the end of my final year as Governor. This year I am grateful for the gift of life, my family, and the privilege of a lifetime that has been serving the great state of Arkansas as Governor.
Some of the Christmas traditions I have been able to be a part of these past eight years have been especially memorable this year.
Last weekend, at the beginning of the Hanukkah season, I had the privilege of lighting the first candle of the Little Rock Chabad Menorah. In 2015, I was the first Arkansas Governor to light the Menorah publicly. It was a humbling experience then, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to join the Central Arkansas Jewish community in celebrating the eight days of Hanukkah each year since then.
A couple weeks ago, I once again got to host the “Christmas at the Capitol” event where we collected gifts for children in the foster care system in Arkansas. Those who donated gifts made a small gesture that will make more of an impact than they will ever know.
After all, giving is a core part of what Christmas is all about. Arkansans are some of the kindest, most giving people I have ever been around. That is especially evident during the holiday season. One of the best parts of being Governor is getting to meet Arkansans from every corner of the state and from all walks of life.
The holiday season often brings out the best in people. I encourage you to extend goodwill toward our fellow man and find a way to serve someone who is less fortunate. Consider giving not only monetary gifts but giving your time. In the words of Mother Teresa, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”
I encourage everyone to find a way to celebrate this spirit of giving not only this week but throughout the year. Tell your family, friends, and coworkers how much you appreciate them. Be kind to others – you never know what type of day they are having. You could be a light in their dark season.
I hope each of you are able to reflect on your blessings, remember the reason for this season, and find joy in being able to call Arkansas home.
A few weeks ago, I joined 20 of my fellow governors in a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to repeal the Biden administration’s COVID vaccine mandate for our military, and today I’d like to provide an update on our request.
In August of last year, President Biden directed United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to impose a COVID vaccine mandate on the men and women of our armed forces. Since that time, the National Guard has missed its recruiting target by 10 percent, and 7,500 members have left the service. The United States Army also missed its recruiting target by 25 percent, falling short of their target by 15,000 recruits.
As of November of this year, over 8,000 active members of the military have been discharged since the implementation of the mandate. It’s clear that this overbearing requirement has put our nation’s military readiness at risk and created a national security concern.
In Arkansas, we took a different approach. I never imposed a mandate for vaccines because I trust people to make the best decision for their health and the health of their family. Instead of mandates, I chose to educate.
I went to 15 cities around the state to hold town hall meetings to answer questions from Arkansans. I held these events with my public health advisors and local health care providers to ensure that specific medical questions about the vaccine could be answered. And yes, I encouraged people to understand the COVID vaccine and to take the vaccine.
Throughout the course of my conversations, I was reminded of how damaging a vaccine mandate could be. Unfortunately, we’ve seen our concerns become a reality because of the COVID vaccine mandate in our armed forces.
While the damage has been done from the President’s decision, I want to applaud the members of Congress who recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual funding legislation for our military. This bill not only funds our military, it also revokes the COVID vaccine mandate. The House passed the defense authorization bill with a bipartisan vote by a margin of 350-80, and the Senate approved the bill 83-11. The vote on this bill and provision will ensure we have a military that is ready to face our adversaries whenever that time may come. I urge the President to sign the defense authorization bill and to end the particular COVID vaccine mandate.
We owe the men and women of our military a great debt for their service, and they do not need to be saddled with unnecessary mandates that only harm their readiness.
This week I received reports from two important commissions I created earlier this year, and today I’d like to discuss those reports and what it means for the future of our state.
On February 17th of this year, I created the Arkansas Commission on the Status of Women. Their task was to study and analyze a number of factors relating to women in the labor force and in education.
The idea for this Commission came from the Arkansas Women’s Foundation and a look back at history. In the 1960’s and 70’s, governors, including Rockefeller, Pryor, and Bumpers, created commissions to study the role women play in the labor market, the economy, and in our politics. But it has been over 40 years since the last report, and the Commission’s review is much needed.
The Commission I created was chaired by my Chief of Staff, Alison Williams. She was joined in this work by elected officials, state government employees, and leaders in business and education.
The findings and recommendations of the Commission were instructive. Their research concluded that women continue to bear the greatest burden of family care. One of the barriers they determined for women in the labor force is often the lack of access to childcare.
Their report also included recommendations like increasing access to women’s physical and mental health resources, equity in entrepreneurship, and increased mentorship programs for women.
Based on these recommendations, I dedicated $200,000 for increased mentorship programs for women through Arkansas State University.
The second Commission report I received this week was from the Arkansas Council on the Future of Mobility, chaired by Cyrus Sigari. The Council was tasked with providing recommendations of policies and objectives that can be achieved by both the public and private sectors to grow Arkansas’s potential in future mobility.
This report included a number of recommendations, and they all had one goal: to ensure Arkansas is not only a national leader in future mobility innovation, but that we are globally competitive.
Some of the Council’s finding expand on our current efforts in computer science education and autonomous drone delivery for things like groceries. The key recommendations include creation of the Arkansas Innovation Fund, workforce training and education, infrastructure, and effective policymaking to foster growth in this field.
I’m hopeful the General Assembly will take up this report and build on these recommendations when they convene in January. Future mobility provides an opportunity for our state to continue leading the nation in innovation while growing our economy and creating the best paying jobs.
When I ran for Governor in 2014, I wanted to be the jobs governor, and today I’d like to talk about our work to bring firearm industry jobs to our state.
On my first day in office I made calls to six CEOs across the country to recruit them to Arkansas. One of those calls was to Ron Cohen, CEO of Sig Sauer.
Just over one year later we announced that Sig Sauer would be relocating its Elite Performance Ammunition manufacturing operation to Jacksonville. But this wasn’t the beginning of the firearms industry in the state.
In 1969, Governor Winthrop Rockefeller joined Remington Arms to break ground on their new plant in Lonoke. He even proclaimed July 23, 1969, as “A Day to Welcome Remington Arms.” The proclamation states, “this multi-million-dollar plant will employ approximately 1,000 people, thereby bringing new prosperity to the community and to the State.”
Today, more than 50 years later, that same Remington plant in Lonoke continues to thrive and grow under the ownership of Vista Outdoor, employing hundreds more people than when the plant first opened in the late 1960s.
When I took office I tried to recruit industries that would be mesh with the culture of the state. I knew of the history of the Remington plant and Arkansas’s respect of the Second Amendment, so the firearms industry was a natural fit.
In 2015, I was the only governor to attend the SHOT Show, the industry’s leading trade show. Since then, I’ve taken a delegation from Arkansas every year they’ve held the event. Governors from states like Georgia, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Montana have since followed our lead and attended the SHOT Show in an effort to recruit these companies.
Because of our rich history and continued efforts to attract these businesses, we’ve seen steady growth over the past eight years. While it began in 2016 with Sig Sauer in Jacksonville, that’s not where it ended. In 2017, Gamo/Daisy Outdoor, the maker of the legendary Red Ryder BB gun, expanded their production in Rogers.
Ammunition manufacturer American Marksman in Searcy and high-end firearm creator Nighthawk Custom in Berryville have also expanded their presence in the Natural State.
During the pandemic in 2020, Fiocchi of America announced their decision to move primer production to Arkansas. When they made this decision they also acquired some of the assets of Grandeur Fasteners in Danville, which was a supplier for Sig Sauer. Just last month, Fiocchi announced the largest investment in the firearms industry in Arkansas with over $41 million dollars and 120 new jobs coming to the Port of Little Rock.
The Remington Arms factory that Governor Rockefeller helped bring to our state was also purchased by Vista Outdoor in 2021 and reopened to bring an additional 450 jobs back to the state.
As governor, I focused on job creation and the growth of the firearms industry is a great fit for Arkansas. Now our state is known as a premier destination for the firearm industry.
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and reflect on the things with which we’ve been blessed. As I look back on the past year, I know I have plenty of reasons to be thankful this holiday season.
One of the greatest blessings is the ability to live in the United States of America. People from around the world look to our nation as the beacon of hope and freedom, and thousands of immigrants come to our shores each year. The freedoms we have from the right to worship, to the right to assembly with others, are all God-given rights that our Constitution protects.
I’m also thankful to live in the Natural State with our beautiful landscape. From the majestic Boston Mountains, down through the Ouachitas, across timberland of South Arkansas, and up the Delta, our state has breathtaking scenery in all four corners. The beauty of our state is one reason in enjoy hiking, duck hunting, and canoeing.
While the natural beauty of our state is incredible, the true gem of Arkansas are its people. Arkansans love their community and nation. They wake up each day to make an honest living to provide for themselves and their neighbors in times of need. The people of Arkansas are charitable and generous, always willing to help those around them.
As I reflect on the past year, I’m reminded of a rare December tornado that came through Northeast Arkansas. As this storm headed directly for a nursing home in Trumann, the staff worked to ensure their residents were protected from the fierce winds and rain. Because of their quick action, these residents were able to escape with very minimal loss of life.
But above these things, I’m abundantly thankful for God’s providence and guiding light. His instruction provides direction to me throughout my days, and His love and mercy are a source of strength.
As we gather this week to celebrate the blessings in our life, I hope you will reflect on your life and things for which you’re thankful. Time with our loved ones is always precious, and I hope all Arkansans will take to rest and enjoy their Thanksgiving.
This weekend begins a special tradition in the Natural State, and today I’d like to talk about what this means to me and our state.
Arkansas duck season begins this Saturday, and hunters from around the world migrate to our flooded timber and farm fields for this annual event. The rich tradition of duck hunting has united Arkansas families for generations and creates memories that last a lifetime.
But duck season in Arkansas provides more than memories and food on the table. Duck hunting contributes to our state’s economy and provides jobs for Arkansans.
The Duck Capital of the World is located about an hour away from Little Rock in Stuttgart. Their local Chamber of Commerce estimates duck hunting brings in over $1 million per day of duck season every year. Hunters are coming to Arkansas to eat at our restaurants, shop at our stores, and stay in our hotels for the chance to hunt our legendary flooded green timber public land.
These hunters have plenty of reasons to visit Arkansas besides hunting our public land. Each year, the Wings Over the Prairie Festival is hosted in downtown Stuttgart. The week-long festival has something for everyone in the family. Pageants, a carnival, the duck gumbo cook-off, and of course, the World's Championship Duck Calling Contest are all part of this celebration of duck hunting in Arkansas.
As a native of the hills of Northwest Arkansas, duck hunting has not always been a part of my life like it has been for those raised in the Delta. But as I take my children and grandchildren to see the sun break over flooded timber, I’m reminded of how special and unique Arkansas is. I’ll never forget seeing the joy on his face when my grandson took his first banded duck a few years ago.
Part of being a responsible hunter is conserving the resources we hold dear for generations to come. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission works tirelessly to ensure the habitat in our state is not only ready to host the millions of migrating ducks heading south, but that it can sustain them for generations to come.
The memories created and lessons learned in a duck blind will often follow us throughout our life. Patience, discipline, and preparation all play a part in a successful hunt and a successful life. As we set our alarms for earlier than normal this weekend, I want to wish our duck hunters a safe and happy Opening Day. Hopefully you plan on having some jalapeño duck poppers with your Thanksgiving feast, because I know I will.
Today, I would like to talk about celebrating our veterans and recognizing the sacrifices they have made for our freedoms.
Veterans have a special place for me. My father was a veteran of World War II, and I am humbled by the privilege to lead a state that honors those who serve or have served in the military. When I have the opportunity to honor veterans or to improve life for them, I try to take advantage of that. In the budget I presented this week to the General Assembly, I asked for increased funding for specific veterans assistance programs.
One hundred three years ago today, “Armistice Day” was created to celebrate the first anniversary of the end of World War I. At the time, World War I was named the war to end all wars. But in hindsight, we know that isn’t true, and our brave men and women have been called upon several of times since.
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day, and with it the focus of the holiday shifted to pay tribute to all American veterans.
Today, we can honor them by supporting our military institutions within the state and equipping them with the best tools to complete their missions. Our military must be second to none, and we have the ability to make sure that happens.
We also must honor them by giving them opportunities to use their skills in a good job where they are able to showcase their leadership and experience.
No one day of observation is equal to the sacrifice of those who put their lives on the line to defend the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted. While we celebrate this Veterans Day, we can look back to just earlier this week when we were able to practie one of our special freedoms.
Election Day is a critical time in our democracy that decides the coming future of our country. We are free today to have a say in our democracy because of the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have stood against dark times.
As Governor, it is important to say thank you, and God bless our men and women who have served and those who continue to serve. We are forever in your debt.
Today I would like to talk about how Arkansas is expanding health services for several populations with greater health needs through the state’s ARHOME program.
In 2013, the Arkansas General Assembly passed the Health Care Independence Act, which established the use of expanded Medicaid coverage. It was known as the "private option."
After I took office in 2015, we worked to put in place the Arkansas Works Act. This act continued the private option, but also added features such as including a work requirement.
On January 1, 2022, we introduced Arkansas Health & Opportunity for Me, or ARHOME. Like Arkansas Works, ARHOME offers health care coverage for eligible Arkansans, using Medicaid dollars to buy health insurance coverage for clients. The difference is that ARHOME places a greater emphasis on improving health outcomes of those who use it by holding the insurance carriers accountable for meeting health improvement targets.
This week, I announced the newest expansion to the ARHOME program with the addition of Life360 HOMEs. The General Assembly takes a lot of credit for the hard work in expanding these services.
These Life360 HOMEs will be used to assist women with high-risk pregnancies, help people with mental illnesses gain access to services in our rural counties, and give young adults most at risk of long-term poverty a helping hand with opportunities and skills for improving their lives. They will also provide support for hospitals, especially those in rural areas.
The rural hospitals will offer services like home visits for eligible women with high-risk pregnancies. Home visitation programs can improve maternal health outcomes and improve health for children.
Another function of the Life360 HOMEs will be to coordinate services to individuals with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders who are living in rural areas. They will be able to partner with our rural hospitals and provide clients with care for up to 24 months.
In 2021, nearly 52,000 ARHOME clients in rural counties were diagnosed with a serious mental illness or substance use disorder. This means our rural patients will be receiving more treatment with a closer focus on better health outcomes.
These Life360 HOMEs are a critical part of the ARHOME initiative, and the additional services made available to Arkansans across this state have the potential to make a profound impact on the health of our citizens.
Today, I would like to talk about the essence of our democracy which is our right as citizens to vote.
Voting is a responsibility that we all share whether we are Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Independent.
There is no other way more direct and meaningful than voicing your opinion through voting, and the people we put in place with our votes are representing both us and our ideas.
An important principal to improve voting is the expansion of voting opportunities. Increasing participation at the polls is the only way we can have a true representation of our opinions.
On July 1, 1971, the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution lowered the voting age to 18. Prior to this change, I could not vote until I turned 21. My first time getting to vote was for the 1972 race for Arkansas Governor between Len Blaylock and former Governor Dale Bumpers. Just 14 years later in 1986, my first time running for a statewide public office matched me up against the same Dale Bumpers who was running for the U.S. Senate.
In the 2018 midterm elections, there was a voter turnout of just 41%. In the 2020 general election, Arkansas had a voter turnout of 56%. This means that Arkansas has a lot of room to increase the percent of Arkansans who vote.
Right now, nearly half of our eligible voters either believe their vote doesn't matter or they believe they are just too busy to vote. It is critical that we increase trust in our electoral process.
Trust in the vote starts with the integrity of the ballot, which is a critical element to keeping our democracy strong and fair. We want people to have increased access to vote, but we also must assure the identity of the voter and be assured that each voter only votes once. That is the essence of democracy.
This week, the polls opened up for early voting in a pivotal election for Arkansas. At this point, the early voting numbers are encouraging. We get to vote on U.S. Senate seats, legislative seats, local races, and even for the next Governor of Arkansas.
It is also a time to vote on issues that the legislature has referred to the people and others that are on the ballot because of the initiative process. These issues will determine Arkansas’s future, so please learn about them, and decide for yourself the direction we should go.
Voting is the best way we can assure that the government is a true reflection of the public’s voice. Please take the time to go out and voice your opinion by voting now.
Early voting has started, and you can learn from your county clerk the easiest way for you to vote.
Today I would like to talk about a priority I’ve had since taking office in 2015. Job creation is critical to our economic growth and our future as a state.
When I was elected, there were 1.2 million people employed in Arkansas. Even after a global pandemic that impacted much of the world’s working force, Arkansas sits at a 3.5% unemployment rate, and we have 125,000 more people working in jobs around the state today than we did 8 years ago. This is possible thanks to the help of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The state’s economic development team has signed 495 projects since January 2015 resulting in creating more than 25,000 jobs for Arkansans.
In 2022 so far, we have signed 19 new incentive agreements with companies investing their resources into our state, which in turn is creating more than 2,900 jobs for Arkansans. This includes the historic investment with U.S. Steel committing more than $3 billion to create the most advanced steel-making facility in North America in Osceola, Arkansas.
Two weeks ago, I joined Commerce Secretary Mike Preston for a ribbon cutting of Lockheed Martin’s new facility in Camden. They invested more than $142 million to expand their facility by 85,000 square feet to increase production capacity for the world’s most advanced air defense missile.
In that same week, Preformed Line Products announced plans to expand operations in Rogers. They will invest $16 million to expand its Rogers facility by 82,000 square feet and plan to add 50 more employees in the coming months.
Another win for Arkansas is Veolia which is expanding in Arkadelphia. Veolia is a global company that designs and provides water, waste, and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. In 2019 alone, Veolia Group supplied 98 million people with drinking water and 67 million people with wastewater service around the globe. Last week, they announced a $600 million investment in Arkadelphia – or specifically, Gum Springs – that will create 125 new jobs by 2024.
And then on Tuesday of this last week, Owens Corning, which produces construction materials, announced plans to expand its existing facility by 70,000 square feet. This $24.5 million investment plans to add 50 new jobs in the Fort Smith area.
Since January 2015, we have lowered taxes, reduced regulations, and increased the speed to market by cutting permitting time — all of which improve growth.
Now we are seeing historical investments with Arkansas companies expanding every week and new companies committing their resources to put down their roots in our state.
Today I would like to talk about the recently proposed policies on marijuana from the Biden administration, and why the administration’s proposal is not the best approach for Arkansas and our nation.
Last week President Biden announced his new policy on marijuana which included granting pardons to all individuals convicted of federal offenses for simple possession of marijuana.
In his proposed policy, he also urges governors to follow the policy at the state level where it is applicable.
The President’s third proposal would create the rescheduling of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.
During my time as Governor, I have often used the clemency powers granted to me under the Arkansas Constitution to grant pardons to those with drug offenses. In fact, I have pardoned hundreds of Arkansans who have been convicted of drug offenses. When choosing to grant a pardon, I will closely examine an applicant’s behavior after their sentence. In this time of rising crime, there should be a clear record of law-abiding conduct before pardons are issued.
I do not support issuing blanket pardons to those who have been convicted of these types of crimes. I firmly believe in second chances, and in each of these cases we must use compassion.
Each case should be looked at individually to determine who is deserving of a pardon.
The President’s request to potentially reschedule marijuana is also misguided. In his statement, President Biden says, “Federal law currently classifies marijuana in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the classification meant for the most dangerous substances.” This characterization is incorrect.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Schedule I drugs are defined as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” While medical marijuana may be legal in many states across the nation, the medical community has not come to a consensus on the benefits.
Schedule I does not mean that the drugs in Schedule I are the most dangerous. For example, Schedule II drugs are those with a “high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.” This includes drugs like fentanyl, Adderall, and morphine. These drugs are considered dangerous but have a legitimate medical use.
When it comes to the proper schedule for marijuana, we need to follow the science and previous administrations that kept marijuana in Schedule I.
Most importantly, we have to make sure we don’t move to decriminalization of drugs that are harming Americans. The fact that a drug is unlawful discourages usage.
Today I’d like to talk about the recent opening of a new academic center to promote the forest industry in Arkansas.
Agriculture is the leading industry in our state, and timber plays a critical role in our state’s economy. When you think of agriculture in the Natural State, the first commodities to come to mind are typically rice, cotton, poultry, soybeans, or cattle. But the forest industry is critical to our state’s economy and agricultural production.
Last week, I traveled to the campus of the University of Arkansas at Monticello for the grand opening of the Arkansas Center for Forest Business. The purpose of this Center is to provide technical assistance for solutions to forest resource challenges, degree programs, and information on timber supply, market conditions, and efficiency.
The forest industry accounts for $6 billion of the Arkansas economy. Our state is the most timber-dependent economy in the South and third most in the country. We are growing forests twice as fast as they’re being harvested, and we could double our timber production and still be a leader in forest sustainability.
The Center for Forest Business will provide a number of resources to the timber industry in Arkansas. Not only will the Center provide expanded educational opportunities at UA-Monticello, but it will also provide opportunities for greater economic development projects in South Arkansas.
Companies like Drax and Highland Pellets chose to expand their operations in Arkansas because of our abundant and sustainable forest products. The Center for Forest Business will not only help our timber producers maximize their profits, but it will also help attract additional businesses who utilize this resource.
But the Center for Forest Business will not just benefit timber producers in South Arkansas. Dean Peter MacKeith of the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture in Fayetteville has long had the vision for the entire state to work together to promote our state’s forest products. According to Dean MacKeith, the Center for Forest Business focuses on the economics and the finance side of the timber industry, while the Anthony Timberlands Center in Fayetteville will focus on the development and promotion of forest products.
UA Monticello is home to the only forestry school in Arkansas, and UA Fayetteville is home to the only architecture school in our state, so the two programs together provide a natural fit.
Our state is more successful when all corners of Arkansas work together to create economic success. The Center for Forest Business will not just benefit timber producers in South Arkansas, it will benefit any Arkansan in the forest product supply chain.
Congratulations to Dean Michael Blazier of the UA Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, and thank you for helping keep Arkansas the Natural State.
Today I would like to talk about how we are expanding opportunities for electric vehicle industries in our state.
First, to make driving electric vehicles in Arkansas a possibility for many, the infrastructure must be there to support it. We are working hard to make that happen.
Recently, Arkansas was approved to receive $54 million dollars in federal grants over the next five years, which will be used to work with partners in the installation of accessible charging stations throughout the state. The deployment of the charging stations will be led by the Arkansas Department of Transportation in coordination with my Department of Energy and Environment.
The goal is to have as many charging stations around the state as we can. Step one includes locating stations at every 50 miles along the most used Arkansas interstates. Step two is to build out infrastructure in rural areas. Anyone in Arkansas who wants to drive electric vehicles should have no worries about the availability of charging stations, no matter where they live within the state.
In addition to the $54 million plan, we are also receiving funding assistance for the installation of 150-kW DC fast charging stations, which can charge electric vehicles in as little as 30 minutes. And we also plan to provide rebates for the installation of Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations, which can fully charge electric vehicles in eight hours or less. Both programs are possible thanks to the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust Fund, and they are moving quickly to establish EV charging in key locations throughout the state.
In Arkansas, we have been working to make our state a leader in using advanced energy technologies. With the creation of teams like the Arkansas Council on Future Mobility, and our focus on innovative technologies, Arkansas is uniquely positioned to be a leader in the electric vehicle industry.
Improving the electric vehicle infrastructure will benefit Arkansans, but it will also benefit many out-of-state travelers and our tourism economy. When people plan to visit, they will have confidence that Arkansas can accommodate their charging needs.
This week is a time many states have established as Electric Vehicle Week. It is a week meant to provide education and spread awareness about the benefits of electric vehicles to our country. I have joined in and proclaimed this time as National Drive Electric Week in Arkansas.
EV charging infrastructure has been a key priority of mine for several years, and I want it to remain a priority well into the future. Arkansas has the potential to develop the best infrastructure in the region and continue leading the nation in advanced technology.
Today I would like to talk about Hispanic Heritage Month and what this occasion represents. Hispanic influence can be seen in all aspects of American life and culture.
In the 1980’s Arkansas saw a growth in the Hispanic population, which continued well into the 21st century. According to the 2020 census, Arkansas was one of 15 states where the Hispanic population made up more than half of all population growth in the state. Hispanic roots in Arkansas run deep and have become a vital part of our communities around the state.
In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law a week-long celebration for Hispanic Heritage. He believed that it was important to celebrate the heritage of our American citizens who were of Hispanic descent because it was those who came before them who helped settle our land and built our country into what it is now.
Later in 1988, Hispanic Heritage Week grew into Hispanic Heritage Month after President Ronald Reagan signed it into law.
It is no coincidence that this falls in September as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua celebrate their independence on September 15. But also, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.
Hispanic Heritage is American heritage because the American story is about every person who takes responsibility, works hard, and dreams big. When we take the time to honor those who made this American story possible, we can overcome America’s challenges and continue to be a beacon of freedom for the world.
When President Reagan signed into law the month-long celebration, he did so because he believed that the celebration of Hispanic Heritage was an example of how fundamental family is to our country.
He believed that the strength of America’s families translated into the strength of our country. This time of celebration looks into a culture’s strongest qualities, and Hispanic Heritage Month is a time where we can honor a love for family and connect through the stories of those who came before us.
Every year, near the end of Summer, the smell of popcorn, face paint, and freshly mowed grass fills the air in cities and towns around the state. Friday night lights and the chill of the early fall air is a familiar feeling to Arkansans of all ages.
High school sports are important to every community in Arkansas, but it is most important to those who participate, the student-athletes. Our students spend so much time of their young life learning how to serve, dribble, and catch a ball. They learn to make a tackle or march in the band.
But the special thing about sports for our children is what they can learn that translates to the rest of their life. Sports teach responsibility and discipline. Our children learn to practice honesty and to have passion for their goals.
They teach how to be resourceful and take situations they aren’t familiar with and make the best out of them. There was a time, not too long ago, during the pandemic that many states canceled school and cancelled sports. I heard from parents, teachers, and student-athletes about how important school was and the sports and other extracurricular programs that go with school.
I told our Secretary of Education and the public that we had to have school in the fall of 2020, and that’s exactly what we did. We had to make many changes to how we operated, we made adjustments to our daily lives, but ultimately we as a community, were resourceful and made it work. Our students continued to participate in the extracurricular activities they hold dearly, all while going to school and continuing their education.
In fact, Arkansas ranked second in the nation for in-classroom instruction during the pandemic. Allowing our school districts to make decisions based on their unique needs kept the health and safety of our students and families a top priority without forcing all schools to follow one set of rules.
In the fall of 2020, I received a letter from a senior at Greenwood High School. Her name was Hannah Watkins and she played volleyball for the Bulldogs. In her letter she talked about how her team huddled around the T.V. watching a press conference where I announced that high school sports would be played during that upcoming school year.
Hannah and her team went on to win the 5A State title in volleyball that season. In the letter she told me they followed all the precautions “to a T” and did whatever they could to make sure they were ready to play. Now, Hannah is playing college volleyball in Arkansas.
This is an amazing example of how sports instill meaningful qualities in our children. They had a goal. They did everything it took to reach that goal, and even though many things had to adjust they were successful in their endeavor.
Tonight, many young Arkansans will be battling it out against each other on the turf, and in the end some teams will win and some will lose. But the sun will rise again tomorrow, and those life lessons they learned will carry on with them for a lifetime.
Today I’d like to talk about a proposed federal rule dealing with construction contracts and my efforts to lead the 17 other governors who oppose this executive order.
Earlier this year, President Biden signed an executive order which requires Project Labor Agreements for federal construction projects. This action will require federal construction contracts of $35 million or more to have a government-mandated project labor agreement.
A project labor agreement is a collective bargaining agreement with labor unions to establish the terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project.
When a project labor agreement is required by government agencies, this interferes with the current competition between union and non-union contractors. This executive order requirement will discriminate against local construction workers in favor of out of state union jobs for these federal contracts.
The federal government will decide who will work on a construction project and favors union over non-union construction companies. This is directly interfering with our workforce and the ability of Arkansas companies to receive these construction contracts.
A reduction in competition from some of the best union and non-union construction firms and workers in our state will exacerbate the construction industry’s skilled labor shortage. It will delay projects and increase construction costs by an estimated 12%-20% per project. These issues will result in fewer infrastructure improvements, less construction industry job creation, and higher costs to the taxpayers. All of which I oppose.
In 2021, Arkansas had one of the lowest rates of union membership in the nation at 3.9%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This proposed rule will put Arkansas at a disadvantage when utilizing our funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Labor unions have played an important role in our nation’s history. But I believe the government’s role in business is to provide an avenue for success and not a roadblock. This rule will create a playing field that isn’t level because it provides an advantage to unionized companies.
Onerous regulations and red tape raise the cost of doing business and suppress economic vitality. The proposed rule from the Biden administration will hamper our state’s ability to efficiently and fully utilize federal funding.
I’m honored to have the support of 17 fellow governors from all corners of our nation as we seek to oppose this rule and support fairness for our states.
Today I’d like to talk about the celebration of Labor Day and the importance of our workforce.
Barbeques, pool parties, and parades are a common occurrence when Americans today celebrate Labor Day, but it wasn’t always about friends and families getting together for fun.
One hudred twenty-seven years ago, President Grover Cleveland signed a bill making the first Monday of September a national holiday. But the work it took to reach that point started years before the bill was ever signed.
At the time, employees, including children, were working more than 12 hours a day, six to seven days a week, in places that were crowded, not ventilated, and not ideal for the work that was being done. The need for better conditions was high.
In 1882, the first Labor Day parade took place in New York City where approximately 20,000 union members marched down the streets of the city demanding better working conditions and shorter hours. In the years leading up to 1894, 24 states declared Labor Day as an official state holiday. Once again, you see states leading the way.
Today, we still celebrate Labor Day as a time to commemorate the contributions made by every American to strengthen our nation and preserve its prosperity.
In Arkansas, we have beautiful mountains, rivers, and the Delta. Arkansas has a robust highway system and access to many resources that are in high demand. Arkansas ranks in the Top 25 nationally in the production of 16 different agricultural commodities.
But none of that matters without our state’s greatest resource: Arkansans.
Arkansas’s workforce is diverse and dedicated. With an unemployment rate less than the national average, Arkansans are working and excelling in the agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, military, and technology sectors of our economy. With the explosive growth of my computer science initiative, we have the talent to compete and succeed in the 21st century.
One of my favorite jobs as governor is to show new companies the benefits of doing business in Arkansas. With my team at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, led by Secretary Mike Preston, we work hard to bring in more high-paying jobs by recruiting companies from all over the nation and the world to come to our state. Just this year alone, AEDC has signed 17 new incentive agreements, which is expected to result in over 2,700 new jobs with an average wage of over $28 an hour. These new and expanding companies plan to invest nearly $4 billion of capital in Arkansas.
But it’s the Arkansas worker who is the most important attraction for any business looking to put down roots in our state. When I talk with CEOs, one of the first things they ask is, “How are the people?” To which I reply, "they are the kindest and hardest working people you will ever meet."
Today I’d like to talk about the steps we are taking to reduce violent crime in Arkansas.
In 2017, there was a shooting at the Power Ultra Lounge in Little Rock. It was a senseless, violent tragedy that occurred right here in our capital city, and it caught the attention of everyone.
After that shooting, it was clear more needed to be done. We had to get a better handle on the violence here in Central Arkansas. As a result, I directed the Division of Community Correction to reinstate the Intensive Supervision Program.
This program is composed of officers who monitor high-risk parolees and probationers in Central Arkansas. The officers are able to provide closer supervision on those that have spent time in prison and released on parole and who pose a greater risk than others. Many of these people are just trying to get a second start in life, and we want to be able to help them to do that.
But we knew this would not be enough to cover the caseloads of our most at-risk offenders.
In April of this year, I announced a new expansion of the Intensive Supervision Program, which has funded 10 more officers to manage the workload of supervising of more high-risk offenders in Central Arkansas. This also expanded coverage from Pulaski County to several counties nearby, including Lonoke, Jefferson, Faulkner, and Saline.
The increase in officers, in turn, created a substantial increase in the seizures of firearms and drugs, along with arrests and new charges for parolees.
From January to April of this year, only four officers were available to handle all intensive supervision cases. In that time, there were 28 arrests and four firearm seizures. Since the addition of 10 more officers in April, there have been 109 arrests and 48 firearm seizures.
We have seen encouraging results so far, and the numbers tell the story; the more resources we put into this program, the better they can manage supervising our most at-risk parolees.
I also created the Gang Enforcement Task Force in July 2017. The task force consists of 10 participating agencies and includes authorities from the local, state, and federal levels. For the past five years, the GET Rock Task Force has worked against dangerous gangs and violent drug trafficking organizations every day.
Other steps we are taking to reduce violent crime include the prison expansion at Calico Rock. This expansion, once complete, will provide additional capacity for serious violent offenders within the Department of Corrections. At the first of the year, we had nearly 2,600 state inmates in county jails. After I directed the Department of Corrections to take steps to reduce the backup, we have dropped that number to 2,029 as of August of this year. The extra prison space at Calico Rock will further relieve the pressure on our local jails.
Due to the pandemic, there was a backlog in the state court system, with many cases not being processed. With legislative support, I allocated $1 million for supporting public defenders and prosecutors, which in turn helped move cases along.
This week, to provide more permanent relief to the court system, I have asked the General Assembly to approve $4.5 million for additional state prosecutors, and another $4.5 million for additional public defenders.
I believe the preeminent role of government is to ensure public safety, and violent crime is an issue that must be solved at the local level. But I am committed to providing every available resource to local law enforcement in Arkansas to make our state the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
Today I’d like to talk about a recent partnership with the state of Oklahoma. On Wednesday, I joined Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on the Oklahoma State University-Tulsa campus to sign a Memorandum of Understanding stating that we are working together to make the Arkansas-Oklahoma corridor a center of excellence in advanced mobility. This includes autonomous vehicles, drone deliveries, and electric vehicles.
Arkansas and Oklahoma already lead the nation in advanced mobility, so joining our two sandboxes of innovation together will bolster our competitiveness for the future.
The East and West coasts get a lot of attention as tech centers, but Arkansas and Oklahoma are rich with a history of leading in aviation and transportation.
From the pioneer aviator Wiley Post in Oklahoma to our own Louise Thaden, who set transcontinental speed records, we have set the pace for innovation and new modes of transportation.
This partnership will accelerate work on advanced mobility and further enhance our region’s reputation as a leader in technological innovation.
Oklahoma has been a vital economic partner to the Natural State for many decades, and this MOU will provide an opportunity for our states to continue the partnership we've experienced over the years to make our region a hub for advanced mobility.
Crossing state lines to join forces with other states governors is not something unfamiliar. Binding our different perspectives and resources with our like-minded goals allows us to produce bigger and better results.
Earlier this year, I was joined again by Governor Stitt and Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana to establish a regional hub for the development, production, and use of clean hydrogen as fuel and manufacturing feedstock.
This is a bipartisan agreement that combines our three states to compete for funding from the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act of 2021. With the portfolios each of our states offer combined, we are competitive due to our ability to uniquely handle the production, storage and distribution, and consumption of hydrogen.
Another example of the cooperation with neighboring states is the I-49 corridor with Missouri. At the end of last year we completed the final stretch of the I-49 Missouri-Arkansas Connector. Joining forces with Missouri and Governor Mike Parson, the I-49 connecter now consists of more than 1,600 miles of roadway, connecting six states: Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
Another example is when a crack was discovered and shut down the I-40 bridge in Memphis in May 2021. Arkansas joined with Tennessee to fix and reopen the bridge because the closure threatened many lives and put a pause on the much-needed movement of commerce.
Governor Bill Lee and I understood the importance of the connector bridge, and we both knew we needed to act quickly. Our two teams developed a plan that emphasized a sense of urgency while keeping safety as the number one priority.
On the front of cybersecurity, Governor John Bel Edwards and I share similar views on the importance of preparing our country for the digital age. Our two states have been on the frontlines of cybersecurity education, in addition to working toward a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem. Good stewardship of our resources includes guarding the gates into our systems and protecting information.
States become stronger when they combine their resources and expertise, and it starts with governors who share similar goals bridging the gap.
Today I’d like to talk about the excellent position our state is in to provide additional financial relief for Arkansans.
In December, we cut nearly $500 million in taxes which was the largest tax cut in Arkansas history. This gave the people of Arkansas some financial relief and continued my promise of cutting taxes for everyone.
But as the cost of living continues to go up, Arkansans need more money in their pockets now. Because of the work we have done to be more efficient in state government, we have created a record surplus in the last fiscal year, and it is clear the state is collecting more than it needs. This gives us the ability to provide financial relief in a time when Arkansans need it most.
Just eight months later, I have signed into law an acceleration of the historic December cuts while also signing into law funding for a new grant program to help schools better protect our children.
With the support of the Arkansas General Assembly, we have been able to lower the individual tax rate to 4.9%, which will save taxpayers a total of $295 million just this year. In 1929, the state income tax was at 5.0%. In 2014, the state income tax was at its highest level at 7%, but our reserves were empty. Less than eight years later, we will have the lowest income tax in state history since its creation, all while having more than $2 billion in state reserves. We also created a $150 nonrefundable tax credit for low- and middle-income Arkansans, saving taxpayers another $156 million this year.
This means the total individual tax relief this year alone is more than $400 million.
My other goal for this special session was to ensure our children are protected in their schools. When parents drop their children off at school, they want to have confidence their children are going to be safe. I proposed we transfer $50 million from the state surplus for the purpose of a school safety grant program. The General Assembly concurred with this plan.
At the beginning of the month, the Arkansas School Safety Commission presented an interim report to me highlighting recommendations for schools to ensure the best protections for our children.
With this grant program, we can provide funding for school districts to increase security measures on their campuses. This will benefit all schools, but especially those who need the most help meeting the recommendations.
I applaud the work of the General Assembly for putting more money back into the pockets of Arkansans and for ensuring schools have the proper resources to keep our children safe.
Americans United for Life ranks Arkansas as the No. 1 pro-life state in the nation, and today I’d like to talk about a few of the organizations and people that give meaning to that designation.
Arkansas is blessed with thousands of people who devote their lives to promoting and protecting life. They understand that a pro-life stand is more than protecting the lives of the unborn. A state that aspires to be pro-life must protect the most vulnerable at every stage of life. That’s why we have worked so hard to reduce the number of children in foster care, to place children in state care with relatives, and to find families who will adopt a child. Since 2016, we have reduced the number of children in foster care from more than 5,200 down to 4,500 at the end of June. At the end of 2021, 42 percent of children in foster care had been placed with relatives, which achieves a better outcome than when children are placed with nonrelatives.
Arkansas’s effort to protect life extends to children of all ages. Arkansas State Police works with the Department of Human Services to investigate reports of child abuse. Last year, the two agencies investigated more than 27,000 reports of child maltreatment. The State Police Crimes Against Children Division has a toll-free telephone line to report suspected child abuse. The phone number is 844-SaveAChild (728-3224).
This year, the General Assembly enhanced our pro-life reputation with passage of Act 187 that allocated $1 million for organizations that support pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, and adoption agencies.
Restore Hope is a nonprofit that supports three programs for its pro-life work: A re-entry program to smooth the transition from prison for inmates who are returning to their families and communities. Re-Entry provides education, job training, and substance abuse counseling.
Restore Hope’s Alternative Sentencing initiative offers a defendant the chance for counseling and school instead of community service, a fine, or jail. This is a pro-life proposal for men and women who are serious about improving their situation.
Restore Hope’s 100 Families program reunites and stabilizes families through partnerships with agencies and churches.
Project Zero is a faith-based organization that aims to find an adoptive family for every child in foster care. Project Zero’s online Arkansas Heart Gallery is a collection of photographs of children who are waiting to be adopted.
Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries is renovating Markham Street Baptist Church in Little Rock as its headquarters and a resource facility. With its new building, Baptist Children’s Homes is providing a place where biological parents can visit their children who are living in a foster home. The ministry provides transportation, specially trained drivers, and supervisors for the visits. Mark White of the Arkansas Department of Human Services said this is the only organization in the state to offer this service.
That’s an overview of the work that a few organizations are doing on behalf of children and Arkansas families in crisis. Each takes its own approach, but the goal of each is to fix broken families. Arkansans care for every member of a family, born and unborn. That’s what makes Arkansas the No. 1 pro-life state.
Two weeks ago, I passed the gavel to my successor as chair of the National Governors Association, and today I’d like to talk about my year as leader of the NGA and the opportunity to work with other governors on some of our nation’s biggest challenges.
I accepted the gavel virtually in my office at the capitol a year ago during the NGA’s annual summer meeting.
This year, we met in Maine, so I passed the gavel in person to the new chair, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
My term as chair offered the opportunity to show off Arkansas and our Computer Science Initiative, which I declared as my Chairman’s Priority. By my final day as chair, 50 governors of states and territories, which was a record, had signed the computer science education compact.
By signing, governors were committing to establish plans to expand computer science in schools and to fund the expansion so that we can create new paths to success after high school.
At the NGA summer meeting, Patrick Gelsinger, the CEO of Intel, spoke about the value of our initiative. Mr. Gelsinger noted that modern life is becoming more digital, and everything digital runs on semiconductors. The manufacturing of semiconductors requires talent and money, which is why we must provide first-rate education for our young people.
He also discussed the federal CHIPS Act, which is the abbreviation for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America. The CHIPS Act would provide about $50 billion in subsidies to support the manufacture of computer chips in the United States. Congress passed the bill, the goal of which is to decrease U.S. dependence on chips that are manufactured overseas. The CHIPS Act had bipartisan support from the governors.
On my first day as chair in July 2021, I reminded my fellow governors that states are laboratories of democracy. I challenged them to innovate, determine what works best, and to share what they have learned.
I suggested that we should lead with civil discourse, respect others in our debates, and rise above party differences to work together. Those words were as relevant today as they were a year ago.
As I reflect on my term as NGA chairman, I am grateful and amazed at the opportunities I have had to serve. I grew up on a farm. My dad was a farmer, and neither of my parents graduated from college. But they gave my siblings and me opportunities they never had. Because of their sacrifice, I’ve had incredible opportunities in life.
In the public arena, I served as United States Attorney under Ronald Reagan and in the United States Congress. In the Bush administration, I served as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and undersecretary at Homeland Security. I’ve prosecuted neo-Nazis and criminal organizations. I helped guide the nation after 9-11. I returned to Arkansas, and then eight years later, I ran for governor and won.
I shared with the governors that I have attempted to follow my parents’ example and to live by their faith and work ethic. My hope is that as governors, we will inspire our young people to participate in our democracy and to understand the importance of public service.
The ability to read well is one of the most crucial skills we can give our students, and today I’d like to encourage you to join in our efforts to build a culture of reading in Arkansas.
Reading is not simply one skill of many that we choose to master. Young people who don’t learn to read well will always struggle in life. Reading changes everything.
We can give our children the gift of reading by providing books at home and reading aloud to them. Children with age-appropriate books at home are more likely to excel academically. When we read to our children, we help them build a broad vocabulary, strengthen language skills, and foster a desire to read. Their memory of that time spent with parents and grandparents is a bonus.
Dolly Parton, the iconic singer from Tennessee, understands that children must read to succeed. So in 1995, she started the Imagination Library to provide books to children up to the age of five. The Department of Education has partnered with Dolly to provide books to more than 55,000 Arkansas children. Dolly visited the Governor’s Mansion in May to join us for a dinner to celebrate the expansion of Imagination Library into every county in Arkansas, which is an impressive accomplishment.
Just this morning, as I wrapped up my year as Chair of the National Governor’s Association, Dolly joined us by livestream at our summer meeting in Maine to talk about Imagination Library. As the First Lady points out, the children who receive a book in the mail every month have a new story to read and a reminder that someone cares about them.
Public and school libraries are another important element of a reading culture. Libraries offer books, newspapers, and magazines to readers who might not otherwise be able to afford those materials.
When I was growing up in Gravette and reading Hardy Boys detective books, a trip to the library was as much a part of the reading experience as sitting down with a book.
A resident of Helena once wrote to a Little Rock newspaper editor about the mystique of Helena’s public library, which “was what a library is supposed to be — dark in the corners, cool air, quiet, a little mysterious, and the wonderful smell of books.”
The road to a reading culture in Arkansas is lined with dozens of libraries, including the four that the railroad tycoon and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie paid for in Little Rock, Fort Smith, Morrilton, and Eureka Springs.
Of all the gifts I’d like to leave to Arkansans, a culture of reading is one of the most important. One of our goals has been to ensure that by the time students leave the third grade, they are reading at the third-grade level. To enhance that possibility, the Arkansas Department of Education launched the Reading Initiative for Student Excellence – or RISE. We emphasize phonics and the science of reading.
For Arkansas to continue to prosper, we must build a foundation of readers. Our success depends in large measure on the strength of our collective reading skills.
But it’s more basic than that. I love to read. Literature of all kinds has greatly improved the quality of my life. I want Arkansas’s kids to enjoy books and to read for pleasure as well as education, because we miss so much of life when we don’t.
Today I am going to tell the story of an Arkansas State Trooper who put his own safety at risk to serve and protect a driver through a good deed that a Weather Channel reporter videotaped and posted online.
The trooper’s action was business as usual for state troopers and police officers. But as the Weather Channel photographer said, you don’t often have the chance to photograph the good work of police officers for others to see.
The trooper that Charles Peek saw in action is Richard Surrette, who patrols in Northwest Arkansas. One day in mid-May, Trooper Surette went to the aid of a driver who was stranded at Mile Marker 78 on Interstate 49 near Rogers.
When Trooper Surrette arrived, Jim Dacus was standing beside his car preparing to change his tire. Troopers are not required to assist with flat tires. They direct traffic and generally ensure the tire changer is safe. But Trooper Surrette says he has changed hundreds of tires. So he changed the tire.
Trooper Surrette, whose father also was in law enforcement, started his career as a Benton County deputy, where he rose to the rank of corporal.
The driver with the flat tire, Jim Dacus, is a 75-year-old veteran who grew up in Wynne and served as an Air Force intelligence officer during the Vietnam War.
By the time Charles Peek happened upon the scene, the tire was changed, but he taped Trooper Surrette talking to Mr. Dacus through the driver’s window, and filmed their smiles and handshake.
Mr. Peek posted the film to his Twitter page with these words: “MUST SEE! I saw Trooper Surrette changing the tire for this motorist. He finished just as I got turned around to video. Police are doing many good things but not often ‘caught’ on video. Thank you, Trooper Surrette!”
State Police Director Colonel Bill Bryant recently spoke to a law enforcement group in Seattle, where Arkansas State Trooper Spencer Morris was honored as a Trooper of the Year. Colonel Bryant noted that 500 Arkansas State Troopers patrol more than 16 thousand miles of state highways every day, and they frequently stop to serve the citizens, whether it’s changing a flat tire or listening for a minute to someone’s concern. They are part of the fabric that holds local communities together. They are among the best trained law enforcement officers in the country, dedicated and always ready to serve. They set aside risks each day to make their state a safer and better place to call home.
Trooper Morris, by the way, was honored for pursuing a stolen car even after the suspect fired a weapon and shot the trooper in the chest. Fortunately, Trooper Morris was wearing a bullet-proof vest.
Even though Trooper Surrette’s assistance was a routine tire change, he knows first-hand that even routine tasks can end badly. Years ago, as a Benton County deputy, he investigated a fatal accident at the same intersection where he helped Mr. Dacus. The victim that night was struck and killed by a car as he changed a flat tire.
Officers protect us because that is what they love to do. They will tell you they are just doing their job. Thank you Richard Surrette, Spencer Morris, and all your co-officers at all levels of law enforcement who care for us by simply doing your job.
July 1, 2022
Today I’d like to talk about the Fourth of July, or Independence Day, in Arkansas, the state with enough lakes, rivers, hiking trails, and outdoor festivals to accommodate 3 million Arkansans and visitors as we celebrate the 246 years of our Nation’s independence. And of particular importance, is our beautiful state parks.
The Arkansas State Park System, which will turn 100 next year, is one of the best benefits of living in the Natural State. The system attracts families and companies that are considering a move to Arkansas.
Petit Jean, Arkansas’s first state park, opened in 1923 when the Fort Smith Lumber Company decided that the area was too difficult for logging. Dr. T.W. Hardison, the Arkansas-born doctor who was the company’s physician, suggested preserving the area as a park. The National Park System declined because the area wasn’t large enough. But Arkansas’s General Assembly liked the idea, and legislators established Petit Jean State Park in 1923.
In the 99 years since, Dr. Hardison’s effort to preserve one forest has expanded to 52 state parks. Employees of President Franklin Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the trails and cabins, and much of the infrastructure during the Great Depression.
Arkansas state parks offer experiences for adventurers at all levels. You can explore the culture and spirit of Arkansas at the Ozark Folk Center, and listen to the musicians who play late into the night on Mountain View’s square. You can watch the sunset at Sunset Point on Mount Nebo, learn Arkansas history at the Arkansas Post Museum, float the river at Cossatot River State Park, or learn to smith a knife at Historic Washington State Park, where James Bowie, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett passed on their travels.
The state park system was designed to ensure that Arkansans could always explore the beauty of the outdoors and history, not far from their backyard. That’s why there is a state park within 60 miles of every Arkansan home. So you’re never too far from experiencing what makes Arkansas great!
The State Parks are offering a variety of ways to spend the Fourth of July: At Historic Washington State Park, a reading of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence with Mr. Jefferson in full Revolutionary garb; at Lake DeGray, a Freedom Fun Run; and at our first state park, Petit Jean, the annual 4th of July Fun and Games Day includes a Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest and wheelbarrow races.
For those who like to set goals or keep track of their travels, we offer a State Park Passport that you can have stamped at the visitor’s center at every park.
Through the hard work of thousands of people, our state parks have achieved Dr. Hardison’s vision and aspirations. Our parks preserve the history, culture, and beauty of our natural state, and offer us a place to experience the beauty of our state every day of the year, and on special days such as the Fourth of July.
June 24, 2022
Arkansas’s education system greatly depends on our ability to attract and retain teachers. We need to make sure the pay reflects the importance of their job and our respect for their role in shaping the lives of the next generation of leaders.
When the pandemic impacted the world, our schools were heavily burdened. Education could not waiver even during a time when things felt so uncertain.
Arkansas was one of the few states that kept schools open thanks to the amazing teachers in our state. In fact, Arkansas ranked #2 in the nation for days of in-classroom instruction during the pandemic. That puts us in front of Texas and Florida. And so, we must be able to provide for those who are willing to go on the frontlines for our children’s future.
Teacher pay has been one of my top priorities since running for Governor in 2014. Since then, we have increased the minimum teacher pay to align with many of our surrounding states.
In 2019, I signed the Teacher Enhancement Act that took our minimum pay of $31,400 and raised it to $36,000 annually by 2022.
This increase was needed for our teachers, but it is not enough. Arkansas is still ranked 48th in the country for teacher starting pay even after that increase. 88% of our school districts start teachers below a salary of $40,000. We are 14th out of 16 states in our region for minimum starting salary, and we rank 13th out 16 for average salary. Nearly 70% of all our teachers are making below $40,000 a year.
Our goal should be to have 100% of our teachers making above $40,000. We know teachers are important, but we must show them why Arkansas is a place they’ll want to teach and live.
For that reason, we must give our school districts more resources to recruit teachers. We have seen firsthand how providing the right resources can bring growth like we’ve seen with the Computer Science initiative.
In 2015, we started the initiative with fewer than 50 computer science teachers in Arkansas. By providing more resources and incentives, we now have more than 650 certified computer science teachers with more coming by the fall. We have gone from fewer than 1,000 students learning about computer science to more than 12,000 with that number increasing every year.
There is a reluctance by some in the General Assembly to raise teacher salary because of the concern over a future economic downturn. We currently have over $2 billion in state reserves and our surplus.
I am confident in our future ability to fund these initiatives, but the General Assembly controls the purse strings of state government, and I respect their constitutional role. While we might not get it done this year I hope it remains a priority in the future.
June 17, 2022
I signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Israel Innovation Authority this week, and today I’d like to talk about what this means to Arkansas.
On Tuesday, my economic development team gathered with Dr. Ami Appelbaum, Chairman of the Innovation Authority, and Livia Link, Consul General of Israel. We gathered at the Melrose Hotel in Washington for the signing ceremony.
Dr. Appelbaum and I signed copies of the agreement in English and in Hebrew.
This agreement affirms the mutual interest of Arkansas and Israel to share ideas and to work together to produce technology that will benefit our nations and the world.
In the official language of the MOU, the purpose of this agreement is to promote activities to foster mutual cooperation in the innovation and development of technology.
I met Dr. Appelbaum last year when I was in Israel for the Prime Minister’s Smart Mobility Summit. This MOU is a logical next step to strengthen our robust relationship with one of the United States’ most important allies. It affirms the deep friendship and mutual respect between Arkansas and Israel.
Our relationship with the Jewish community dates to 1823 when businessman Abraham Block and his family were the first Jewish family to take up residence in Arkansas. Mr. Block and his sons opened businesses in four Arkansas counties, in New Orleans, and in Texas. The Blocks’ home in Washington is a museum in Historic Washington State Park.
I have had the privilege of expressing our support of Israel by signing bills that allow Arkansas to invest in Israel bonds and that prohibit state and local governments from conducting business with companies that boycott Israel.
As Israel’s ambassador said at the bill signing that day in August 2017, we were sending a message that Arkansas stands against hate and against anti-Semitism, and that Arkansas stands with Israel.
This agreement is a natural progression of our relationship with Israel.
My friendships within the Arkansas Jewish community have led to many personally enriching opportunities, such as participating in the annual Menorah lighting ceremony in Little Rock. I was equally enriched by the brief time we spent with our friends from Israel on Tuesday.
As I prepared to sign the Hebrew version of the MOU, I suggested that I was going to use my Hebrew name, which brought some laughter. The joke, of course, is that Asa is a Hebrew name.
Now that we have signed the MOU, we will explore what’s next in this mutually beneficial partnership between two leaders in innovation and technology as we embark on the next stage of our long relationship.
Hundreds of high school students explored the halls of the Arkansas Capitol last week during the annual exercise in government known as Girls State and Boys State.
The week-long programs, which are sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, offer rising seniors the chance to form a government, run for office, and write and vote on legislation. At the end of the week, the students visit the Arkansas Capitol, where they conduct the business of state government in the place where it really happens.
During Boys State and Girls State, the students ran intense campaigns for office, negotiated and passed laws, and held a press conference to announce an economic development project.
On Thursday and Friday, in keeping with tradition, I vacated my office for the newly elected governors. This year, I lent my chair to Trinity Foster from Crossett as Girls State Governor and Pablo Velasco-Moya from Brinkley as Boys State Governor. Let me assure you, they represent their community and state very well. And Pablo Velasco-Moya is the first Latino elected as Boys State Governor.
Arkansas Boys State began in 1940, and Girls State in 1942. The early days of the program were practically a boot camp. Boys and girls alike slept on cots in unairconditioned four-person huts at Camp Robinson.
Bryan Rogers, who was elected Boys State president pro tem of the Senate in 1972, described the experience like this: “We marched like soldiers everywhere we went. We were up at 6 a.m. to salute the flag and do calisthenics. We ate in a mess hall.”
For 81 and 79 years respectively, the programs have produced leaders in business, education, and politics. Some already showed promise as teenagers. Mr. Rogers recalls that Mike Huckabee “was already a polished and charismatic public speaker when he won Boys State Governor in a landslide.”
Bill Clinton is another alumnus whose week at Boys State played a significant role in his career. The year he attended, his friend from Hope, Mac McLarty, was elected governor. Mr. McLarty later served at the White House with President Clinton. Mr. Clinton was elected Boys State senator, which qualified him to participate in Boys Nation in Washington, D.C.
That is where the president-to-be met President John Kennedy at the White House, and the photograph of that meeting became famous as President Clinton rose to national prominence.
Other Boys State alumni include four-star General Wesley Clark, and state legislators Eddie Armstrong, Jonathan Barnett, Shane Broadway, and Joe T. Ford; House of Representatives Parliamentarian Tim Massanelli; Jack Watson, who served in President Carter’s administration; and U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton. Both major party nominees for governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Chris Jones, were delegates for Girls and Boys State.
Len Cotton, a cattle farmer and a member of the 1962 class, is one of five commissioners who oversee Boys State. He usually speaks on the opening night of Boys State. “I always tell them, ‘You’re going to meet people who are going to become elected officials. Or you could see a Bill Clinton.’”
Congratulations Girls State and Boys State's Class of 2022. You’ve got a great tradition at your back as you choose your path in life.
As our nation mourns the death of nineteen students and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, the national conversation has turned again to the need to make our schools more secure.
In Arkansas, educators and legislators have long recognized the need for vigilance to keep our children safe. Concern for the safety of our students didn’t suddenly become a priority last week because of the violence in Texas. Four years ago, after a young man killed seventeen students in Parkland, Florida, I created the Arkansas School Safety Commission to assess the state of school security. The commission submitted a 124-page report with thirty significant recommendations. The work of the Commission hasn't sat on a shelf. In fact, most of the recommendations have been adopted, or we are working toward implementing them.
But we need to do more. The attack in Texas compels us to revisit the findings and to assess the effectiveness of any changes school districts have made. I have asked Dr. Cheryl May, director of the School Safety Center and the Criminal Justice Institute and who was chair of the commission, to call the members back to follow up on their work to ensure that we are doing all we can.
I am considering calling a special session this summer, and if we have one, I will recommend a grant program to help fund the schools’ efforts to improve security.
There are many ways to harden the security of schools. We can invest in security guards, police officers, and school resource officers. We need to control and secure points of entry into a school. And we need to design schools with security as a top priority.
One area of concern is the mental health of students, which is part of the Arkansas Commission’s report. In 2019, the General Assembly responded by passing Act 190, which reduced the administrative duties of school counselors to 10 percent of their time and requires them to spend 90 percent of their time in direct counseling with students. This emphasis on students increases the likelihood that counselors will identify students who are struggling with emotional or mental-health issues.
Other laws that came out of the commission’s work included Act 629, which allows school districts to form their own police departments, and other enactments which focus on comprehensive school safety audits, emergency operation plans, lockdown drills, and require Youth Mental Health First Aid for school counselors.
U.S. senators and representatives are discussing the issue in Washington. Congress certainly has a role in this ongoing conversation and can be helpful, but ultimately, each state and school district must decide locally how to protect students.
There are common sense ways to predict these tragic events, and we must work together to do everything in our collective power to protect our most vulnerable Americans – our children.
The matter of safe schools doesn’t belong to Republicans or Democrats. Each of us has a responsibility to see that schools are among the safest place for our children and educators. Americans in each political party and at all levels of government must work together to ensure that our students and teachers return home after the final bell rings at the end of the day.
Monday is Memorial Day, and this week, hundreds of volunteers are placing an American flag in front of every gravestone in each of Arkansas’s five military cemeteries.
We observe Memorial Day, which began shortly after the end of the Civil War, to honor the memory of those who died in service to the United States. The flags honor everyone who served in one of the five branches of our military – the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, and the Navy.
The three national cemeteries are in Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Fayetteville. The state’s Veterans Cemeteries are in North Little Rock and Birdeye.
On Wednesday, just five days before Memorial Day, the commander of all U.S. military special operations asked to visit the Fort Smith National Cemetery. It was General Richard Clarke, who is the 12th commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, and he wanted to visit the grave of General William O. Darby.
General Darby is a native of Fort Smith, and a graduate of Fort Smith Senior High and West Point. In 1942, the commander of the 34th Infantry Division promoted William Darby from captain to major and assigned him to organize an elite commando unit taken from all branches of the military. This was the start of the United States Army Ranger Battalion, sometimes called Darby’s Rangers.
Major Darby fulfilled several assignments in the theater of war and at the Pentagon. He returned to Europe in early 1945, and volunteered to take command of the Tenth Mountain Division. On April 30, 1945, as he outlined strategy for the next day, a German shell exploded in the midst of his meeting and killed him. He was 33.
So on May 25, seventy-seven years and 25 days after General Darby died in World War II, General Clarke visited General Darby’s grave in Fort Smith.
Marshall Murphy, director of the national cemeteries in Fort Smith and Little Rock, stood by as General Clarke and Representative Womack visited the grave.
Mr. Murphy, a veteran who served in the Marines, says that General Darby is a patron saint for Army Rangers. He also noted that General Clarke carries on the tradition of General Darby with a quiet dignity. You would never guess by his words or manner that he commands all U.S. special forces, which perform the most dangerous, sensitive, and secret missions around the world.
This week in Fort Smith, General Clarke did what he always does – he led the way with his visit to honor General Darby. The volunteers who work in the cemeteries to place a flag at each gravestone share in the General’s mission to remember our fallen warriors.
The graduation season is upon us, so today I am congratulating the members of the Class of 2022 who overcame the expected difficulties of high school and college and then surmounted the totally unexpected challenges of a worldwide pandemic.
COVID-19 forced you to do many things differently. You attended some classes virtually from time to time. You might have missed some extracurricular activities such as music programs, competitive sports, and clubs.
For all that you missed, you also learned some lessons that you wouldn’t have otherwise. You watched leaders at all levels of health care and government assess the medical information and decide how to combat COVID-19 and how to keep Americans safe. We witnessed robust debate about the intersection of science, medicine, public opinion, and emotion. I imagine that these are lessons many of you will take into your careers, whether you are in public service or the private sector.
In Arkansas, we went virtual in our schools for a short time. We knew the best outcome for our students was to return them to in-classroom instruction as soon as possible. And we did. Our Department of Education worked with school districts all over the state to implement procedures and protocols to ensure in-classroom learning continued. Secretary of Education Johnny Key and educators in all corners of Arkansas sometimes worked seven days a week to support our teachers and students.
As we come out of the pandemic, we are enjoying all of our traditions, including graduation. I join you in your success as I imagine the sights and sounds as you walk across the stage, receive your diploma to the tune “Pomp and Circumstance,” your caps flying in the air as you finish one era of your life and head into the next.
Graduation time is a good time to pause and reflect on the challenges and what you have learned to overcome the next challenge.
As you look to the next stage of your life, don’t forget the people who helped you get to this point: your family, your friends, your teachers and professors, and your mentors. You can thank them in person, and you can thank them by passing on their good work in your life when it’s your turn to mentor and lead.
The world needs your insight, creativity, energy, perseverance, and compassion. Graduation is not the end of your education but a brief stop on your way to learning even more. Learning never ends, and as you already have experienced, life will be a hard taskmaster. But never give up, because your greatest victories will come out of your greatest trials.
My Number 1 goal has been to make Arkansas an even greater place to live, work, and raise a family. Many of you in the class of ’22 will go to far-away places to chase your dreams. I wish you Godspeed. But wherever that may lead, I hope your path eventually brings you back home to join us in making Arkansas the best place in the world.
There is no question that many families suffered financial setbacks as the coronavirus swept across the nation two years ago. Today I’d like to discuss my vision to stabilize housing and to assist Arkansans with opportunities to move up the economic ladder.
Arkansas’s unemployment rate rose to more than 10 percent in the early months of the pandemic. The federal government stepped in with Emergency Rental Assistance, which allowed many to remain in their homes and softened the financial blow for landlords.
But our economy has returned, jobs are plentiful, and our unemployment rate is even better than before the pandemic. Many still are recovering, but as employment opportunities abound, we are returning to our pre-pandemic assistance programs.
Our goal is to educate Arkansans so they can move into trades that will allow them to build a career that will support their family. We must do more than pay the rent.
Arkansans want to work. We recognize the dignity that comes with earning a living rather than a lifetime of accepting help. For this to work, we must assess the needs of individuals. What training does a person need? What challenges prevent a parent from finding a job? Some need help to overcome a mental illness or an addiction to alcohol or another substance.
We still have programs that assist renters, including the Emergency Solutions Grants, the Community Services Block Grants, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Arkansans’s belief in the value of work has been a foundation of my approach to lending a government hand to those in need. I recently informed the U.S. Treasury that Arkansas would accept no more than about $58 million in funds the federal government is offering through the second round of the Emergency Rental Assistance program. That is about 39 percent of the total the state was offered.
We still have approximately $16.5 million available in housing stability funds through other programs, and that includes more than $6 million for rental assistance. So we don’t need the entire $146 million the federal government offered. The money we do accept from the second round of Emergency Rental Assistance could better be used to continue pilot programs with various nonprofits from Our House to Restore Hope and others, or to start new programs that promote housing stability.
I thought long and hard about whether to accept all of the federal funds, but I didn’t think we should take the money when we already have rental assistance funds available through other programs. It makes no sense to start an absolutely new rental-assistance program that would make it too easy for people to accept help rather than improve their job skills.
The federal money also came with strings and limited our flexibility in program-integrity efforts.
We are not going to ignore the needs of Arkansans. Community action agencies throughout the state can distribute aid from the remaining funds.
But now that we are putting the pandemic behind us, we must focus on giving Arkansans the best kind of help, which is the chance to train and the ability to succeed. Our goal is not only to help someone find work today, but to help them achieve the dignity and pride of putting their family into a house and putting food on the table.
The freedom of speech is one of the bedrock principles upon which our country was founded. The purchase of Twitter by the world’s richest man this week has reignited the discussion surrounding free speech, and I’d like to share my thoughts on the importance of this freedom.
Social media censorship has been a concern of many Americans for years. While platforms like Facebook and Twitter are privately owned companies that set their own rules for the service they provide, the concern over the spread of misinformation and disinformation on these sites is one shared by millions of Americans.
There is equal concern over how these private companies censor or ban certain speech, and the argument is that the platforms are, in essence, the public square where speech should not be limited.
These worries have led some elected leaders to call for increased censorship, while others have called for a hands-off approach.
Throughout our nation’s history, especially in times of war and turmoil, Americans have spilled a lot of ink about what speech, if any, should be limited by the government. The government plays a necessary role in ensuring public safety and protecting its citizens from violence. In other words, no one should be allowed to shout “fire” in a crowded theater.
Since the advent of the internet and social media, bad actors, such as violent terrorists who wish to harm us, have used these platforms to stir up unrest and recruit others to join their causes to harm others. This has been seen throughout the world, especially since the September 11th attack on the United States. In the wake of these horrific events, organizations like al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the Taliban have used the internet and recruited and radicalized citizens around the world to commit acts of terrorism in their home countries or join their fight overseas.
These are legitimate threats that can interfere with the government’s commitment to ensure domestic tranquility and to provide for the common defense. It is important for these social media platforms to assure they do not cross the line into advocating violence.
But there is a difference between citizens engaging in speech directly intended to cause violence that is illegal and those engaging in speech we may not agree with.
In his dissent in the 1929 case of U.S. v. Schwimmer, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes noted, “If there is any principle of the Constitution that more imperatively calls for attachment than any other it is the principle of free thought — not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought that we hate.”
The American Ideal calls for us to live in a nation where we can agree to disagree with our neighbors, have robust debate, and still live peaceably. The Bill of Rights identifies rights that the government may not infringe; it prohibits government from interfering with these rights that are essential to our freedoms, the rule of law, and our democracy.
I often see negative and hateful comments on social media. But despite this negativity, I am grateful to live in a nation where the rights of those who disagree can voice their opinions freely and without persecution. Whenever I check my Twitter account, I’ll be appreciative of the protection of freedoms we’re blessed to experience in this country.
Thirty-seven years ago this week, I put on a bulletproof vest and entered a white-supremacist compound to try to convince the group they were outmanned and outgunned and should surrender.
As I have reflected on that moment as well as the racial tension and civil unrest that have roiled our nation over the past two years, I have thought about the lessons we learn from our history.
The people I confronted on April 21, 1985, were members of the Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord, known as the CSA, and one of their missions was to take down the United States government. Members of the CSA had sent out teams to assassinate several government officials, including me.
On April 21, 1985, I was the United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, appointed three years earlier by President Ronald Reagan. For two years, my office had monitored the CSA in cooperation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Missouri, as well as the FBI and the ATF.
As we developed our strategy to flush out the CSA, we were well aware that the white supremacists had stockpiled high-powered weapons and weren’t afraid to shoot law enforcement officers. Just a year earlier, CSA member Richard Snell shot and killed a black Arkansas State Trooper who had stopped him for a traffic violation. His name was Louis Bryant, and he was a true hero.
We anticipated fierce resistance, so we brought over 200 law enforcement officers to the small town of Elijah, Missouri, many of them disguised as anglers in town to fish. I joined several other agents on the negotiating team. We persuaded Jim Ellison, the CSA founder who had purchased the land for the compound, that his best hope was to surrender. After three days of negotiations, all the men laid down their weapons, and the standoff ended without gunfire or bloodshed. That day also marked the end of the CSA. But it wasn’t the death of the dangerously misguided belief that one race is superior to another.
On the anniversary of that tense standoff with the white supremacists of the CSA, I understand there remains much work to be done to close the gaps among Americans of different races, religions, and beliefs.
Ultimately, I am hopeful. Throughout history, people have often expressed their disagreement with violent language, and sometimes it goes further into actual violence, so this is nothing new. But I am optimistic because in America we learn from the mistakes of the past.
Nearly forty years ago, I joined a band of hundreds of good people who linked arms to confront those who believed violence and racial hatred were the answer to their anger. Sometimes I fear we are not moving fast enough toward an America that is truly equal. But we are making progress as long as we listen to each other and care about each other.
There will be more times when we must stand shoulder to shoulder against hate just as those federal and state agents did nearly forty years ago in western Arkansas. But Americans’ bedrock belief that all men are created equal echoes in our founding documents and rises from our hearts as we continually travel toward that more perfect union.
This week, I declared Washington County a disaster area in the wake of an EF3 tornado that damaged more than 350 homes and businesses and demolished the gym at George Elementary in Springdale.
The process that led to the declaration officially began at 5:34 a.m. on March 30th when the director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management notified me a tornado had touched down about 4 a.m.
In the weeks since then, leaders of local and state emergency agencies have joined investigators from FEMA to inspect homes and structures in order to estimate the dollar amount of damage.
The tornado stayed on the ground for eight minutes and cut a strip through Washington County that was as wide as the length of nearly four football fields.
Fewer than ten people were injured, and we were blessed that no one died in this storm.
Within hours of the storm, volunteers from Springdale and nearby communities, members of church-based disaster-relief teams, and representatives from nonprofit agencies appeared to help the county dig out.
In my seven years in office, I have declared too many areas a disaster after they have been flattened by a tornado or washed away by a flood. I have flown over houses without a roof or have been flattened altogether. I have seen automobiles lying upside down far from the place where the wind picked them up. I have seen fields of soybean, corn, and cotton overtaken by the rushing water of historic floods, which also sometimes tear out chunks of the levees that protect towns and farms along our rivers.
My role in these events usually starts the same way, with a telephone call from my Director of Emergency Management. Sometimes it’s a call from the Corps of Engineers in another state, which notified me on a beautiful spring morning in 2019 that water from Oklahoma soon would engorge the Arkansas River and threaten our state all the way to Little Rock.
While management of the response to a natural disaster is one of the most difficult tasks that falls to a governor, it’s also one of the most rewarding because I witness the best in people that emerges in the worst of times.
I see firsthand the kindness and personal sacrifice of Arkansans who ignore risks to their personal safety to help their neighbors. First responders run to the danger to ensure everyone is out safely. Employees of power companies climb ice-encrusted poles in sub-freezing weather to restore electricity. Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals report for duty to back up staff already on the job.
We hold our breath when we hear that severe weather is likely, and when the black, low-hanging clouds blow in as they did again this week, we wonder where the storm will go and how it will end.
We can only guess at what’s about to happen, but we always can be certain of one thing after every calamity. We know that after every single storm, Arkansans will emerge by the hundreds to rescue and comfort the victims and to start rebuilding without regard for their personal inconvenience.
So today, I am expressing thanks to the hundreds of volunteers and the disaster-relief organizations that respond in a crisis. These include the Red Cross and multiple faith-based organizations and churches.
I am also announcing today the allocation of $100,000 in individual assistance that will be available to cover part of the loss to homeowners.
The Small Business Administration will make available low-interest loans to impacted businesses.
One of the many things on my list of bragging rights is the compassion and courage of Arkansans.
I have just finished my ninth Computer Coding tour of Arkansas schools, and today I’d like to talk about our computer-science success.
I tour the state because I enjoy the chance to meet thousands of students and teachers and to see the work they are doing. I also like the chance to encourage students who think they aren’t interested in coding to take a class just to see what it’s all about.
I make this tour twice a year to spread the word that computer science leads to a good career. And a workforce that is trained in computer science is the foundation to growing Arkansas in a technology-driven economy.
In my first month as governor, I signed the law that required every high school to teach computer science. We were the first state to do that, and our national reputation grew.
More importantly, so did enrollment in computer science courses. Enthusiasm for coding exceeded my expectations, and our numbers back up our reputation. When I became governor, only 1,100 students in the entire state were enrolled in a computer science class.
This past school year, the number rose to more than 8,000, an increase of 620 percent over 2015. The number of girls enrolled in computer science has increased from 223 in 2015 to over 2,400 today. That is an increase of more than a thousand percent over four years.
But it is the individual stories that tell our story best. When I visited Buffalo Island on the spring tour, students demonstrated software that will detect CO2 emissions from soil. At Brinkley, a 6-year-old showed me a watch he has programmed.
On the first day of our last tour, I announced that we have increased the stipend for teachers who are trained and certified to teach computer science. Now teachers who return to school for further training can receive a $2,000 stipend every year for up to five years.
To further motivate and honor teachers, we’ve created an award for the Computer Science Educator of the Year. Our first teacher of the year was Karma Turner of Lake Hamilton High. Karma taught math for 21 years. In 2016, she taught her first coding class. Now she teaches coding levels one through four.
The stops on my autumn tour were Midland High School in Pleasant Plains; Armorel High School in Blytheville; Calico Rock High School; Foreman High School; Sylvan Hills Middle School in Sherwood; Lonoke High School; Eureka Springs High School; and Mulberry High School.
I always tell students that if they know computer coding and have access to high-speed internet, they can sit on their front porch anywhere in Arkansas and run the world. After I spoke at Midland, a gentleman shared with me his wife is doing just that. She earns $70,000 a year working for an international data analytics company from their home in Pleasant Plains.
Arkansas has been one of the states to lead the way in computer science education. I want Arkansas to continue to lead.