This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of July 14, 2024. I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

Members of Congress were busy upon returning to Capitol Hill from their Independence Day break. U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., introduced separate measures confronting different matters; Cotton's bill involves the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision overturning its longstanding Chevron deference, while Westerman's measure addresses the use of cell phones in classrooms.

STORY: Sen. Tom Cotton seeks court case, agency reviews after Supreme Court overturns regulatory precedent

The United States and Mexico have agreed on actions protecting steel and aluminum industries from Chinese efforts to enter other markets.

The nations hope these new efforts will stop China's ability to enter North America by shipping products to Mexico, avoiding American tariffs in the process.

STORY: U.S., Mexico reach deal to protect steel and aluminum from foreign tariff circumvention

Members of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee are getting more serious about establishing a regulatory framework for digital commodities.

Lawmakers and regulators alike have been pushing to close the current gap in federal oversight, which was made apparent by the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX nearly two years ago.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., is the Senate Agriculture Committee's ranking member; he wants the committee to address the matter but warns of taking any action risking the United States' chances of having an advantage over its international counterparts.

STORY: Senators eye action on digital commodities; Boozman unsure of success in current Congress

Thank you for supporting "Arkies in the Beltway!" The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette will have coverage this week from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. On next week's episode, we will recap the gathering and the Arkansans who played a part in the GOP gathering.