In the News

McCarthy names his picks for coronavirus select committee Roll Call 05/07/2020 House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Thursday announced his picks for the House select committee on the coronavirus, despite consistently voicing his reservations about the need for the panel. “While the Democrats might use this to take another stab at impeachment 2.0, Republicans will remain… Read more »

Rep. French Hill to Newsmax TV: Cut US Reliance on Chinese Health Supplies Newsmax 05/06/2020 The coronavirus pandemic exposed a massive dependence on health supplies from China, but his new bill cuts U.S. reliance on foreign goods during future health crises, Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., told Newsmax TV. "We were caught in this pandemic in low tide with no bathing suit on. I think… Read more »

Fed should be 'flexible' in response to coronavirus crisis, says oversight commission member The Hill 05/05/2020 The Federal Reserve and Treasury Department should be “flexible” as they deploy $500 billion to protect businesses and local governments facing financial peril because of the coronavirus, said a member of the oversight committee charged with monitoring their… Read more »

Fed should be 'flexible' in response to coronavirus crisis, says oversight commission member The Hill 05/05/2020 The Federal Reserve and Treasury Department should be “flexible” as they deploy $500 billion to protect businesses and local governments facing financial peril because of the coronavirus, said a member of the oversight committee charged with monitoring their… Read more »

FRENCH HILL: Getting to work Arkansas Democrat Gazette 05/04/2020 From when the first person fell ill on Dec. 8, 2019, in Wuhan, China, from a mysterious illness now known as the novel coronavirus to the World Health Organization's (WHO) announcement on March 11, that, in fact, the coronavirus outbreak is a pandemic, the United States and the world have been swept up in a global… Read more »

U.S. House Proposes Legislation for Contactless, Cashless Payments The Tokenist 05/04/2020 When it comes to direct payments with paper currency and touchpoints during points-of-sale (POS), paranoia is increasing. This has prompted banks, financial authorities, and now governments to introduce more effective means of financial transactions. Cash Paranoia in the Time of… Read more »

Bill Extends Medicare Telehealth Coverage for Therapy Providers JDSupra 05/02/2020 As part of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the federal government expanded Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services. In subsequent guidance and rulemaking, CMS provided expanded… Read more »

Area universities get more relief funding Texarkana Gazette 05/02/2020 The Arkansas congressional delegation announced an additional round of coronavirus relief funding for Arkansas' historically black colleges and universities and institutions serving low-income students to help ensure learning continues during the coronavirus crisis. Several universities in Southwest Arkansas… Read more »

Lawmakers ask that a sign-language interpreter be added to the White House’s popular coronavirus press briefings Business Insider 05/01/2020 The Congressional Deaf Caucus is fighting to have sign language interpreters at all televised White House public health press briefings. The chairs of the caucus, Reps. Mark Takano and John Rutherford, sent a letter to Vice President Mike… Read more »

COVID funds go to HBCUs, schools serving low-income students The Pine Bluff Commercial 05/01/2020 Approximately $14.6 million in additional coronavirus relief funding will go to Arkansas’ Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and institutions serving low-income students to help ensure learning continues during the coronavirus crisis. U.S. Senators John Boozman and… Read more »