Womack Hosts Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in Arkansas’s Third District

ARKANSAS—October 5, 2026… Today, House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (AR-3) welcomed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to Arkansas’s Third Congressional District. During the visit, Chairman Womack highlighted to Secretary Duffy how federal investments are helping the region respond to rapid growth by supporting the construction of critical transportation infrastructure. Chairman Womack said, “Strong transportation infrastructure keeps our communities moving and our economy growing. From getting people to work and school, to connecting or communities by air, to moving freight and goods, we need infrastructure that can keep pace with our current and future demand—both regionally and nationally. The federal government is an important partner in making that happen. I’m glad Secretary Duffy is here in Arkansas’s Third District to see firsthand how federal investment is helping to move forward critical infrastructure projects that will not only contribute to our region’s continued prosperity but to that of the nation.” Secretary Duffy said, “Arkansas is fortunate to have a Representative like Steve Womack in Washington advocating on their behalf to get big, beautiful infrastructure projects like I-49 and the XNA expansion done. His role as Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee has helped secure crucial dollars for AR-3. During the President’s second term, USDOT has awarded over $71 million to Arkansas’s Third District. Representative Womack played a crucial role in delivering those dollars to the Natural State.” Chairman Womack’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 THUD appropriations bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $28.29 billion to the Department of Transportation (USDOT), which is $1.177 billion above the FY 2026 enacted level. The bill invests in modernizing our national airspace system and strengthening infrastructure, including roads, bridges, railways, and maritime facilities across the country. Read more bill highlights HERE . Visit Highlights Chairman Womack and Secretary Duffy started the day by viewing the ongoing construction of Phase 1 of the 14‑mile Alma‑to‑Barling segment of I‑49. This phase includes the Arkansas River Bridge Crossing—the project’s most critical component. Once completed, this section of I-49 will deliver much‑needed congestion relief for Fort Smith and Van Buren and will spur economic development along the connector, attracting businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening regional commerce. On a national level, the completed project will also mark significant progress toward closing the 155‑mile I‑49 gap between Alma and Texarkana. Closing this gap will create a continuous north–south interstate connection from Canada to Louisiana, supporting supply‑chain efficiency and reliability. Chairman Womack has secured $21 million for the project’s construction through the appropriations process, including $18 million in FY 2022 and $3 million in FY 2026. With Chairman Womack’s support, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) received a $25 million USDOT RAISE grant in 2024 for the project. Chairman Womack and Secretary Duffy then visited the location of the planned River Valley Slackwater Harbor Project, which, once complete, will expand the port’s capacity and accommodate larger barges carrying more freight. This increased capacity will improve multimodal freight movement in the region, positioning the River Valley for long-term economic growth. With Chairman Womack’s support, the Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority received a $15.1 million USDOT Maritime Administration (MARAD) grant for the project in 2023. While there, Chairman Womack and Secretary Duffy also had a chance to see how Five Rivers Distribution moves feed from barge to truck. At Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), Chairman Womack and Secretary Duffy participated in a working lunch with elected officials, XNA leadership, local trucking and logistics executives, and regional infrastructure stakeholders to discuss Northwest Arkansas’s rapid growth and the regional transportation challenges that the region faces. Commissioner and Chairman of the Arkansas State Highway Commission Phil Taldo also presented Secretary Duffy with the Arkansas Traveler Certificate—a special recognition given to out-of-state travelers who have contributed to the state. Afterwards, Chairman Womack and Secretary Duffy toured XNA’s new air traffic control tower and heard from leadership about the airport’s current operations and future plans. Chairman Womack has secured $17 million for XNA development through the appropriations process, including $4 million for its lobby renovation in FY 2022, $7 million for the XNA Access Road in FY 2023, and $6.41 million for the new air traffic control tower in FY 2023. With Chairman Womack’s support, XNA has also received $117.6 million in USDOT grants since 2016. Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Womack.house.gov ###