Pictured l. to r., FCAC Political Director Ken Yang with Rep. Julie Mayberry; Rep. Tony Furman with Yang, Sen. Alan Clark with FCAC President Jerry Cox; Sen. Kim Hammer with Yang; and Rep. Keith Brooks with Yang.
The Family Council Action Committee (FCAC) recently presented 2021 Statesman Awards to Senators Alan Clark of Lonsdale and Kim Hammer of Benton, as well as Representatives Keith Brooks of Little Rock, Tony Furman of Benton and Julie Mayberry of Hensley, who all serve Saline County.
All of these legislators received a letter grade of “A” on the FCAC legislative report card. Recipients of this award are recognized for their votes during the 93rd General Assembly on the bills scored in the report card. Senator Clark received his award Thursday, September 2, 2021, at the Garland County Republican Committee in Hot Springs. The others received their awards on that evening at the Saline County Republican Committee in Benton.
According to FCAC, the reasons these legislators were given the top grade are below:
- Senator Clark was the lead Senate sponsor of HB1570, now Act 626, the Arkansas Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act. This new law prohibits sex-change surgeries and procedures such as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on children. Senator Clark is currently serving in his third term as a state senator and is vice president and chief operating officer of Clark’s Building and Decorating Center. He previously served on the Garland County Quorum Court from 1992 through 1996. For the 93rd General Assembly, Senator Clark serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is also a member of the Senate Committee on City, County, and Local Affairs. He is married to Jana and they have one son and one daughter. They reside in Lonsdale, Arkansas, and attend the Church of Philadelphia where he teaches Sunday school.
- Senator Hammer was the lead Senate sponsor of SB289 and HB1211, now Acts 462 and 94, the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act and the protection of religious organizations, respectively. Act 462 protects health care workers’ rights of conscience to decline to participate in non-emergency procedures that violate their moral, religious, or ethical convictions. Act 94 protects churches and other religious organizations from being forced by the government to close during an emergency or similar disaster and recognizes them as essential. Senator Hammer is serving in his first term as a state senator and is a chaplain and pastor at Saline Memorial Hospice. For the 93rd General Assembly, Senator Hammer serves as co-chair of Joint Retirement and Social Security Committee. Senator Hammer and his wife Karen reside in Benton, Arkansas, and have two sons and a daughter.
- Representative Mayberry was the lead House sponsor of HB1061, now Act 311, the No Patient Left Alone Act. This new law protects patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and similar facilities from being left alone and denied visitors during a pandemic or similar emergency. Representative Mayberry is serving in her third term as a state representative and is in media and advertising for Spirit Publications, Inc. She currently serves on the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee, and the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. She lives in Hensley, Arkansas with her husband Andy and four children.
- Representative Brooks is serving in his first term as a state representative and is the owner of an insurance agency in Saline County. Representative Brooks has served as a non-profit volunteer in Saline County advocating for children with special needs and those with significant learning delays. For the 93rd General Assembly, Representative Brooks serves on the House Public Transportation Committee, the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee, and the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee. He attends church at Little Rock Church and is the father of three children and resides in Little Rock with his wife Jenny.
- Representative Furman was the lead House sponsor of SB463, now Act 787, which amends laws regarding abortion reporting and inspections of abortion facilities. This new law strengthens Arkansas law concerning abortion facility inspections, and requires abortionists to file documentation that a crime has been reported to law enforcement when the woman is a victim of rape or incest. Representative Furman is serving in his first term as a state representative and is a realtor with Crye-Leike Realtors in Saline County. For the 93rd General Assembly, Representative Furman serves on the House Public Transportation Committee, the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee, and the Joint Performance Review Committee. He and his wife Lorin reside in Benton, Arkansas, and have three children.
The award was presented to Senator Clark by Jerry Cox, President of Family Council Action Committee based in Little Rock. “Legislators regularly face tough votes at the State Capitol and their hard work, good votes, and dedication to Christian family values are often unknown to the public” said Cox. “We chose votes on bills based on our core belief in promoting, protecting, and strengthening traditional family values. We are thankful that his votes on those bills reflect our mission and for Senator Clark leading on Act 626 for the children of Arkansas,” stated Cox, “we are pleased to present Senator Clark with the 2021 Statesman Award.”
The awards were presented to the other legislators by Ken Yang, Political Director of Family Council Action Committee based in Little Rock.