In the News

While most of the world had to watch Pope Francis’ historic address to a joint session of Congress Sept. 24 from afar, Msgr. Lawrence Frederick had what broadcasters called a “coveted” seat inside the gallery thanks to a former student. Each representative of Congress was allowed to invite one person into the gallery to view the pope’s address and U.S. Rep. French… Read more »

Cong. French Hill, R-Little Rock, awarded his monthly Golden Fleece award to the unions that represent federal government employees. The award highlights what the Second District Republican Congressman sees as government waste, fraud or abuse. Hill has previously awarded the Golden Fleece award to the Veterans Administration, the Social Security Administration and the U.S.… Read more »

With hours to spare, Congress approved a stopgap spending bill Wednesday to keep the federal government open, at least until December. Democrats helped House Republican leaders pass the measure by 277-151 after the Senate approved it by a 78-20 tally earlier in the day. President Barack Obama signed the bill Wednesday evening. Click here to read more. Read more »

Congress voted to avoid a government shutdown on Wednesday with all but one of Arkansas’s all-Republican congressional delegation voting in the minority.  Arkansas’s members opposed the inclusion of funding for Planned Parenthood in the short-term, stopgap spending measure. The Senate passed the spending resolution 78-20. U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom… Read more »

U.S. Rep. French Hill wants Congress to assure banks and title companies that the government will be lenient as they work under new rules starting Saturday that will affect people purchasing or refinancing homes. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules were proposed more than two years ago. They require that homebuyers receive easier-to-understand disclosure forms that clearly lay… Read more »

Arkansas’ federal lawmakers faced the resignation of House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, received a visit from Pope Francis and criticized a federal agency’s response to a disaster in the Animas River. The following is a breakdown of events that happened in the nation’s capital this past week: BOEHNER RESIGNS The announcement of the resignation of House Speaker John… Read more »

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., and other House members visited the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba on a trip organized by the Army. "In my view, [Guantanamo] offers our Nation a safe and secure facility for the custody of perpetrators of terror including ruthless killers, bomb makers, the bomber of the USS Cole, and the 9/11 Five. Further, we have invested in… Read more »

House Speaker John Boehner abruptly announced his resignation Friday, shutting down a tea party drive to depose the nation's highest-ranking Republican. The 13-term Ohio lawmaker, second in line to the presidency, shocked his rank and file when he told them of his plans in a private meeting. He said he would step down from the speaker's job he's held for nearly five years, and from… Read more »

The U.S. House on Thursday approved and sent to the president’s desk legislation to rename the Helena-West Helena federal building in honor of an Arkansas man who was the nation’s first Jewish federal judge. All six members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation supported the measure to rename the building after Jacob Trieber. The Senate approved the bill last… Read more »

In addressing a joint meeting of Congress, Pope Francis urged cooperation for the common good. Several members of Arkansas' Washington delegation said they hope senators and representatives absorb that message. "The challenges facing us today call for a renewal of that spirit of cooperation, which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the United States," Francis told… Read more »