Arkansas Senators Snag Key Spots in 119th Congress Committees

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50 states, 100 Senators. Republicans hold a slim majority in the 119th Congress that begins January 3. In the Senate, that’s 53 Republican Senators.

Even with plenty of committee assignments to spread around — the Senate has 21 working committees — our Arkansas Senators figure quite prominently in the 119th Congress.

Senator Boozman’s Committee Assignments:

Senior Senator John Boozman (first elected Senator in 2011) will chair the influential Agriculture Committee beginning in January. He continues his work on the Appropriations, Veterans Affairs, and Environment & Public Works Committees, while adding responsibilities on the Rules Committee.

Senator Cotton’s Committee Assignments:

Junior Senator Tom Cotton (first elected Senator in 2016) is set to chair the all-important Intel Committee, while giving up his current seat on the Judiciary Committee to continue his service on the Armed Services and Joint Economic Committees in January. Most importantly, Senator Cotton joins the six-member GOP Congressional leadership team after he defeated Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa for Senate conference chair. (Democrats call themselves a “caucus,” but Republicans are a “conference.”)

Senator John Thune of South Dakota, Senate majority leader, announced assignments for the 119th Congress last week.

“Trumpy” Senators?

Republicans in the lame duck Senate have already expressed their independence from the influence of Trumpism as lines are being drawn over approval for President Trump’s cabinet picks. While neither Boozman nor Cotton appear on Wikipedia’s (dubious?) list of “Trumpy” politicians, Steve Bannan (then chair of Breitbart News) praised Cotton in 2017, saying

Next to Trump, he’s the elected official who gets it the most — the economic nationalism. Cotton was the one most supportive of us, up front and behind the scenes, from the beginning. He understands that the Washington elite — this permanent political class of both parties … needs to be shattered…. He spent a lot of time in my little war room (when Bannon advised Trump in his first presidential campaign), and he gave us a lot of good advice.

And, even though Boozman has said President Trump bore “some responsibility” for January 6, he voted to acquit Trump in the J6 impeachment trial and carries endorsements from not only President Trump but also many Arkansas Republicans; he’s also backed by the National Rifle Association and National Right to Life.

With their continued influence in Washington, you can be sure that both Arkansas Senators Boozman and Cotton will make news in the 119th Congress.

Elizabeth Sotallaro

God’s child, Arkansas conservatarian
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