In the News

Arkansas hosts socially-distanced Memorial Day ceremony 05/25/2020 ABC 7 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — While many Memorial Day services around the country were canceled due to coronavirus, Arkansas didn't skip the holiday. Instead, Governor Hutchinson led a small, socially distanced ceremony. He began by saying, “We are gathering today in a difficult and confusing time in world… Read more »

Governor Hutchinson delivers Memorial Day address 05/25/2020 KARK LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (News release) – Governor Asa Hutchinson delivered remarks today at a Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.The following is a transcript of his remarks: I want to express my thanks to Major General Penn for his leadership; to Colonel… Read more »

Steve Brawner: French Hill to ask, what about that $500 billion? 05/24/2020 Searcy Daily Citizen U.S. Rep. French Hill is part of the five-member Congressional Oversight Commission overseeing $500 billion in taxpayer-financed coronavirus-related loans, but a chairman hasn’t been appointed yet. That means it has no budget or staff, so when a legally required first report was due,… Read more »

Fed Receives Bipartisan Critique for Stalled Main Street Lending The Washington Post 05/21/2020 The U.S. Federal Reserve received a bipartisan critique Wednesday from members of a congressional oversight panel who said the central bank has been slow to launch a key emergency lending program for mid-sized companies. Representative French Hill, an Arkansas Republican, and… Read more »

Rep. French Hill Says 'Time Is The Enemy' When It Comes To Lending To Businesses WBUR "Here and Now" 05/20/2020 The CARES Act allocated $500 billion for lending programs run through the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve. The bipartisan Congressional Oversight Commission says most of that money hasn't been spent yet. We talk with Republican Rep. French Hill… Read more »

Fed Receives Bipartisan Critique for Stalled Main Street Lending Bloomberg News Network 05/20/2020 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Federal Reserve received a bipartisan critique Wednesday from members of a congressional oversight panel who said the central bank has been slow to launch a key emergency lending program for mid-sized companies. Representative French Hill, an Arkansas… Read more »

Oversight of $500 Billion in Coronavirus Aid is at Risk as Pelosi and McConnell Fight Over A Leader Newsweek 05/20/2020 Members of a bipartisan congressional panel who oversee $500 billion in coronavirus funds for struggling businesses are warning that proper oversight is at risk because the commission tasked with the job still lacks a leader. As a result, members are taking the… Read more »

Oversight panel puts out report; $500B fund barely touched, it notes Arkansas Democrat Gazette 05/19/2020 The U.S. Treasury Department has barely tapped a $500 billion economic stabilization fund that was created in response to the covid-19 crisis, the Congressional Oversight Commission reported Monday. The fund and the commission that monitors its use were created as part of… Read more »

Treasury fund meant for virus relief has lent barely any money, oversight commission finds The Day 05/19/2020 WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday intensified his push for businesses to reopen as quickly as possible, but companies and cities continued to wait for the disbursement of unspent bailout funds and remain unsure what to expect as rules and programs continue to… Read more »

The Finance 202: Senators poised to push Powell, Mnuchin on speed of economic rescue spending The Washington Post 05/19/2020 Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell is poised this morning to push senators on spending more to backstop the pandemic-ravaged economy. And they are set to make the case right back at him. Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have allocated only… Read more »