In the News

HEALTH CARE BRIEFING: Senate Passes $484 Billion in Interim Aid Bloomberg Government 04/22/2020 The Senate passed $484 billion in new pandemic relief funds yesterday to bolster a tapped-out small business aid program, pay for coronavirus testing and help hospitals deluged by sick patients. The legislation, which the House could take up as early as tomorrow, includes $320 billion… Read more »

Watchdogs scramble to keep tabs on billions in stimulus spending CNN Politics 04/22/2020 Hundreds of billions of dollars are flowing every day from the largest emergency economic package in US history. The watchdogs, if they're even in place, are now just trying to keep up. The oversight work is starting, but there are already questions about whether the commissions and panels… Read more »

Virus Aid Watchdog Will Have Subpoena Clout, Member Says BNN Bloomberg 04/21/2020 The congressional watchdog overseeing a half-trillion dollars in virus-related spending can rely on the subpoena powers of other parts of Congress if it needs to fight for documents from the Trump administration to conduct its work, according to a Republican member of the commission. Representative… Read more »

Virus Aid Watchdog Will Have Subpoena Clout, Member Says Bloomberg 04/21/2020 The congressional watchdog overseeing a half-trillion dollars in virus-related spending can rely on the subpoena powers of other parts of Congress if it needs to fight for documents from the Trump administration to conduct its work, according to a Republican member of the commission. Representative… Read more »

Rep. French Hill Taking Narrow Approach to Coronavirus Relief Oversight Morning Consult 04/21/2020 The economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic is a whole different ballgame compared to the 2008 financial crisis, both in how it started and how policymakers attempt to offset some of the damage. This means Congress should take a different approach to overseeing… Read more »

Two grants to revive, highlight historic black community sites in Little Rock Breaking U.S. News 04/20/2020 Matthew McCoy (left) and his mother, Kerry McCoy, are seen Friday afternoon inside the Dreamland Ballroom on West Ninth Street in Little Rock. The 100-year-old facility has received a National Park Service grant for accessibility upgrades and other modifications. (Arkansas… Read more »

Watchdog panels slowly take shape over $2T in virus cash Federal Times 04/20/2020 Congressional oversight of about $2 trillion for the coronavirus crisis began to take shape Friday as three members were appointed to a congressional commission that will monitor how the money is spent. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Penn. and Reps. French Hill, R-Ark., and Donna Shalala, D-Fla., were added to… Read more »

Two grants to revive, highlight historic black community sites in Little Rock Arkansas Democrat Gazette 04/20/2020 Matthew McCoy (left) and his mother, Kerry McCoy, are seen Friday afternoon inside the Dreamland Ballroom on West Ninth Street in Little Rock. The 100-year-old facility has received a National Park Service grant for accessibility upgrades and other modifications.… Read more »

What to Know in Washington: $500 Billion Virus Aid Deal Close Bloomberg Government 04/20/2020 Democrats and the Trump administration are near an agreement on a deal as large as $500 billion to fund a tapped-out small business aid program and provide money for coronavirus testing and overwhelmed hospitals. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said… Read more »

Hill expects more money for small businesses, sees geographic approach to reopening through governors Talk Business and Politics 04/19/2020 U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, says he expects more money to support the quickly evaporating COVID-19 subsidy programs for small businesses passed by Congress and he believes that governors should control a targeted approach to reopening… Read more »