This is an exciting time to be living in District 53. We can look forward to new opportunities even as we face a number of challenges. Working together we can move forward, creating good jobs and building a bright future for our families and our children’s children.

As your representative, I have helped with legislation that will continue the improvements our area and our state want and need. For example, Crittenden Regional Hospital has already seen the tremendous impact of the provider tax, a bill I co-sponsored, that levies an assessment fee on hospitals to match federal funds. This will help the hospital continue its growth, which is vital to Crittenden County and surrounding areas, and provide a full range of medical services for our community.

A key to building a broad and lasting economic future here will be improving access to educational opportunities. I'll fight to improve our public schools and help our teachers as with the bill I co-sponsored providing additional funding for employee health insurance for schoolteachers.

I am currently working with Arkansas Game & Fish on a grant for the lake at Tilden Rodgers Park, and already have secured grants for many public service facilities, including:
• Crittenden County Search & Rescue to enhance equipment
• Marion Volunteer Fire Department to buy new turnouts/protective gear
• West Memphis Police Department to provide body microphones and cameras for officers, which will enable them to record events that transpire during certain situations
• Community Enhancement for City of Marion to provide $20,000 to replace glass doors and windows in the City Hall to increase energy efficiency

Additionally, I have worked on your behalf at the state capitol on the following legislation:
• Juli’s Law, which allows DNA to be collected and uploaded to a national database following an arrest or criminal charge for certain felony offenses
• Reduction of the Sales and Use Tax rate on food from 3 percent to 2 percent
• A bill to allow West Memphis and Marion to tax cigarettes at the same rate as Tennessee
• A bill clarifying which manufacturing machinery and equipment replacement parts are exempt from Sales and Use Tax
• Clarification of the laws concerning charitable bingo and raffles to make it more workable for groups such as the VFW and American Legion
• Supported additional funding to counties for state prisoners being held in county jails

Let me know what your concerns, ideas and issues are. Our voices will be heard at the state capitol.