Sanders, Republican governors send letter to Congress urging Farm Bill reauthorization
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, 17 Republican governors – including Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders – sent a joint letter to Congress expressing their concerns about the delayed passage of an updated Farm Bill.
In the letter, the governors argued that the reauthorization of a Farm Bill and immediate assistance in the interim will allow farmers and ranchers to do what they do best – provide for America and feed the world.
The governors wrote in part: “Domestic agricultural production is a matter of national security. If a country can’t feed itself, fuel itself, or fight for itself, then it cannot survive. It is imperative that the United States not become dependent on other countries for our food supply, while we have the best farmers and ranchers in the world right in our backyards.
Our nation’s agriculture industry is in trouble and if meaningful support is not provided soon, the well-being of the nation is at risk. Reauthorization of a Farm Bill and immediate assistance in the interim will allow farmers and ranchers to do what they do best – provide for America and feed the world.
We collectively request that Congress fulfills its obligation to protect and revitalize the agriculture industry before it’s too late. Any delay would directly impact every community in America.”
Read the full letter online at https://www.rga.org/joint-agletter/ Signatories include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Eric Holcomb (IN), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Jeff Landry (LA), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Mike Parson (MO), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Joe Lombardo (NV), Governor Mike DeWine (OH), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK), Governor Henry McMaster (SC), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), Governor Jim Justice (WV).
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Internal audit uncovers questions on agents of international students at
Arkansas State University
LITTLE ROCK — An internal audit by Arkansas State University found at least $525,000 in questionable payments made to agents and subagents of international students who attended the university over the last decade, lawmakers were told last week.
The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee on Educational Institutions received the findings during a meeting at the Capitol.
According to the report, the university’s Internal Audit Department did an audit of commissions paid to international recruitment agents by the ASU-Jonesboro campus from June 30, 2015 through June 30, 2024.
“IAD reviewed supporting documentation related to international students’ applications and commission payments to determine the accuracy and legitimacy of commissions paid to the agents,” the report noted. “IAD discovered lack of internal controls, including inadequate supporting documentation for payments and lack of adequate internal control policies and procedures.”
The report also noted that staff of the International Programs Department were instructed to utilize agents’ codes when international students had not listed an agent on an application or listed an agent that was not a partner of
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the university.
The report has been referred to the Arkansas Attorney General’s office and the 2nd Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s office for review, lawmakers said.
Lawmakers including Sen.
Jane English (R-North Little Rock) also asked A-State officials about the issue, with officials saying an agent can receive at least $100 a semester or possibly more per student for their work.
The committee heard from Chancellor Todd Shields and system official Shane Broadway on the issue.
Shields said he received an anonymous tip in spring 2023 about the issue and one agent in particular. Shields said the university immediately ended its contract with the agent in spring 2023 and no longer works with the agent, who was not named at the meeting. From there, Broadway said university officials began the internal audit and self-reported the findings to Legislative Audit.
The university has also implemented a policy that will require agents to log in and verify they are working to bring the students to school.
Also, the system will verify the student is enrolled at AState and is taking classes.
Shields said it appeared that the process involving the International Programs Department may have been an isolated situation but is something that university officials take very seriously.
The full committee will meet Friday in Little Rock.
