In the News

McConnell, McCarthy pick reps for committee to oversee bailout fund CNBC 04/17/2020 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced on Friday their picks to sit on the five-person board overseeing a $500 billion bailout fund intended to help ailing businesses weather the coronavirus pandemic. McConnell said he has chosen Sen. Pat Toomey,… Read more »

U.S. bailout watchdog vows to scrutinize share buybacks, dividends Yahoo News 04/17/2020 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An official charged with overseeing how the U.S. government handles $500 billion in bailout funds said on Friday he will also monitor how companies use the cash, including for share buybacks, dividends and staff compensation. Bharat Ramamurti, who was named this month… Read more »

Pelosi, McConnell name picks to serve on coronavirus oversight panel Politico 04/17/2020 Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have tapped two fellow lawmakers as their picks to a five-member congressional commission tasked with overseeing the Trump administration's implementation of the massive new coronavirus relief effort. Pelosi, who announced her… Read more »

U.S. bailout watchdog vows to scrutinize share buybacks, dividends Reuters 04/17/2020 An official charged with overseeing how the U.S. government handles $500 billion in bailout funds said on Friday he will also monitor how companies use the cash, including for share buybacks, dividends and staff compensation. Bharat Ramamurti, who was named this month as a member of the… Read more »

Arkansas airports receive $51 million in COVID-relief grants Talk Business and Politics 04/14/2020 Arkansas airports affected by the prevention of, preparation for, and response to the coronavirus pandemic have been awarded $51 million by the Federal Aviation Administration. “These much-needed funds will help Arkansas airports continue operations, as well as support their… Read more »

AR Delegation applauds HHS for awarding $41 million in COVID assistance to AR child care providers KARK 04/14/2020 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 Health and Human Services (HHS) for awarding federal funds to provide child care support to health care… Read more »

FAA awards Arkansas airports $51M for economic relief as a result of coronavirus pandemic 5 News Online 04/14/2020 U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton—along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman—applauded the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for awarding a total of $51 million in grants to Arkansas airports affected by the… Read more »

Hill unveils bill to secure nation’s vaccines for public health emergencies The Ripon Advance 04/13/2020 U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR) recently introduced legislation to ensure the supply of certain medical supplies essential to national defense. Rep. French on March 26 sponsored the Securing America’s Vaccines for Emergencies (SAVE) Act of 2020, H.R. 6399, which would amend the… Read more »

Republicans call on Treasury to create liquidity facility for servicers Housing Wire 04/13/2020 The chorus of those pushing the federal government to set up a forbearance liquidity facility for mortgage servicers just got a little louder. Late last week, more than 20 Republican members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the Department of the Treasury, urging… Read more »

Washington news in brief: Hill bill addresses medical supplies | Independents seek signatures leeway Arkansas Democrat Gazette 04/12/2020 Hill bill addresses medical supplies U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., has introduced legislation that would amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 "to ensure the supply of certain medical articles essential to national defense." The Defense… Read more »