In the News

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Conner Eldridge said Monday that federal instructions on transgender students' use of restrooms and locker rooms aren't needed, while a spokesman for Democratic congressional candidate Dianne Curry said she supports the federal instructions. The U.S. Department of Education on Friday sent letters to school districts across the country that directed educators to let transgender students use the restrooms that correspond with their gender identities. The letter thr... Read more

Home | News | Government | Congressman Calls for Regulatory Transparency from the CFPB Print This Post Congressman Calls for Regulatory Transparency from the CFPB U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-Arkansas) said Monday that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) needs to do a lot more to ensure the industry understand the new TRID-compliant ‘Know Before You Owe’ rules before they take effect. Specifically, Hill wants to make sure that the Bureau clears up confusing language regarding insurance f... Read more

Addressing more than 250 attendees Monday during the American Land Title Association (ALTA) 2016 Federal Conference & Lobby Day in Washington, D.C., Congressman French Hill (AR-02) stressed that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) should provide additional formal guidance to help industry comply with the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID), or the Know Before You Owe, rule. Specifically, Congressman Hill urged CFPB to correct the inaccurate disclosure of title insurance fees when... Read more

Fourth District U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman is a charter member of a new bipartisan Capitol Hill body, the Working Forests Caucus, that unites congressmen from key lumber and wood products states. First District U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford is on the steering committee of the recently formed Cuba Working Group, a collection of lawmakers from both parties who want to roll back Cold War restrictions on trade with Havana. Second District U.S. Rep. French Hill is a leader of the Congressional Investment in... Read more

Members of the Clarksville High School band traveled to the nation’s capital last week, taking their instruments and stacks of patriotic sheet music with them. The 60 young musicians provided a free mini-concert in front of the nation’s World War II memorial Thursday morning, playing the national anthem, “Veterans’ Salute,” “America the Beautiful” and “The Washington Post March.” Thirteen chaperones from Johnson County and curious tourists from around the country enjoyed the performance on a dri... Read more

Every day, we are hearing and reading about how Congress is stalled, stagnant and doing nothing to earn respect of American voters. I have learned that the opposite is true of the Arkansans we have sent to Washington, despite the wrangling and disagreements they face each day, as well as constant pounding in the media. In past years, the tax incentives for conservation easements to preserve land have been on a roller coaster, buried in thousand-page Farm Bills with no guarantee of passage. Lando... Read more

Nearly two dozen lawmakers sent a letter urging the Commerce Department to keep sanctions on Chinese company ZTE for allegedly doing business with Iran. The Commerce Department announced in March that it would sanction ZTE Corporation, a telecommunications manufacturer, for allegedly violating export control laws restricting the sale of technological items to entities in Iran. The sanctions banned U.S. manufacturers from selling components to the Chinese company and also barred foreign manufactu... Read more

It took more than 65 years for Edsel Smith to receive a Purple Heart for a gunshot wound suffered in the Korean War, and he blames the delay on bacon and eggs. At some point during a firefight with Chinese soldiers in the Chosin Reservoir in the winter of 1950 -- Smith of Bryant isn't sure exactly when -- a bullet pierced his left leg. The former Marine noticed the wound after the blood froze against his skin during the frigid night. A field medic treated him and recommended he receive the Purpl... Read more

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - An Arkansan who served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Korean War has received a Purple Heart 65 years later. Before the ceremony inside the State Capitol began Tuesday, tears were already streaming from Edsel Smith's face. The 91-year-old veteran shared photos of his graduation and the planes that he worked on, but says it's a time that is difficult to talk about. "Very emotional, very emotional. I can't, and you can ask Wanda. I start telling about it and I have to quit, ... Read more

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A 91-year-old U.S. Marine who served in World War II and Korea is finally receiving his Purple Heart. U.S. Rep. French Hill will present the medal to Edsel Smith in a ceremony Tuesday at the state Capitol. Smith was wounded in Korea during the Chosin Reservoir campaign. He was shot in the leg but didn't realize he was bleeding until later that night because of the extreme cold. His division pulled back and Smith finally was treated by a medic, who recommended him for the... Read more