In the News

COVID-19 concerns prompt new interest in cashless payments Roll Call 04/29/2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has fanned public concerns that the coronavirus could be transmitted by handling cash, according to a recent report by the Switzerland-based Bank of International Settlements, prompting merchants and members of Congress to contemplate more sanitary, hands-off digital payment… Read more »

Delegation announces $4.7 million in HUD funding for Arkansas KARK 04/29/2020 WASHINGTON (News Release)—U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton—along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman—applauded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for awarding Arkansas Public Housing Agencies $4.7 million in funding to support the… Read more »

House drops plans to return to D.C., citing virus risk; McConnell vows Senate will vote Monday The Washington Post 04/28/2020 House leaders abruptly dropped plans Tuesday to bring lawmakers back to Washington for legislative work next week, citing warnings from the congressional physician about the continued spread of the novel coronavirus in the District and its suburbs. With… Read more »

Fault lines emerge in oversight body as Toomey, former Warren aide split Politico 04/28/2020 The congressionally appointed panel scrutinizing trillions of dollars in emergency lending is already battling over how to hold the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department accountable. Bharat Ramamurti, a former aide to Sen. Elizabeth Warren tapped for the oversight panel by Sen.… Read more »

Politics, but not as usual, awaited; back to normal long way off, say state’s House members Arkansas Democrat Gazette 04/27/2020 Members of the House from Arkansas say they are hopeful that the U.S. Capitol can reopen soon, that congressional business, long delayed, can begin again. But restoring the familiar rhythms of life -- on Capitol Hill and across the country -- won't be… Read more »

11 counties listed state disaster areas after storms Arkansas Democrat Gazette 04/25/2020 Gov. Asa Hutchinson has declared 11 counties to be state disaster areas after severe storms swept through south Arkansas on Easter Sunday. At a news conference Friday, Hutchinson said he signed the declaration that day. The counties are Arkansas, Bradley, Cleveland, Dallas, Drew, Grant, Hot… Read more »

State’s schools in line for $128.8M El Dorado News-Times 04/25/2020 Arkansas’ public elementary and secondary school system is expected to receive nearly $128.8 million of the more than $13.2 billion in federal aid provided for education in the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. U.S Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced Thursday that the money… Read more »

Lawmakers press for small business loans for payday lenders Politico 04/24/2020 A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pressing the Trump administration to let payday lenders gain access to small business rescue money, going to bat for companies that have been accused of engaging in predatory behavior toward lower-income people. The move comes as officials try to quell public… Read more »

State delegation in D.C. all favor $484B relief bill Arkansas Democrat Gazette 04/24/2020 All four U.S. House members from Arkansas were on Capitol Hill on Thursday, voting for the $484 billion coronavirus relief package. After flying on near-empty airlines and maneuvering through Congress' nearly deserted hallways, they cast votes in small groups, carefully keeping their… Read more »

State's schools in line for $128.8M Arkansas Democrat Gazette 04/24/2020 Arkansas' public elementary and secondary school system is expected to receive nearly $128.8 million of the more than $13.2 billion in federal aid provided for education in the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. U.S Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced Thursday that the… Read more »