In the News

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 »

In crypto will the US fall behind if it fails to relax regulations? Daily Hunt 04/11/2020 The United States has been active lately in the crypto sphere. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stated earlier in February that the U.S. soon would announce new regulations related to cryptocurrency and digital payment systems; as many commentators feel that these strict regulations tend to… Read more »

Demo Day goes virtual for Venture Center, ICBA accelerator Talk Business and Politics 04/11/2020 The Independent Community Bankers of America and The Venture Center, in partnership with the state of Arkansas, on Wednesday (April 8) hosted the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator Virtual Demo Day, the culminating event of the program’s second cohort. “This is a special day for me … hearing… Read more »

Bankers tout PPP, ask White House for help Dodd Frank Update 04/10/2020 As the Paycheck Participation Program (PPP) moved into its first full week, the White House welcomed a group of bankers to meet and discuss the success and concerns about the program. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said more than 3,000 banks had participated in the program since it launched, a combination… Read more »

Congressional Delegation announces emergency funds for Arkansas higher education students Fox24 04/10/2020 U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack, and Bruce Westerman announced emergency grants to support postsecondary students and institutes of higher education impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The funds,… Read more »

Congressional Delegation Announces Emergency Funds for Arkansas Higher Education Students KASU 04/10/2020 U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton—along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman—announced emergency grants to support postsecondary students and institutes of higher education impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The funds,… Read more »

Lending tech nets event's top prize Arkansas Democrat Gazette 04/09/2020 Lendsmart walked away with the top prize at the Little Rock Venture Center's community banking accelerator program, which ended its second 12-week boot camp Wednesday. "Everyone loved this team and the work that they do," said Wayne Miller, executive director of the Venture Center. "They just crushed… Read more »

'This isn't a Trump thing': GOP ramps up pressure on China following worldwide coronavirus outbreak The Washington Examiner 04/09/2020 A growing number of Republicans are intensifying their scrutiny of China amid the coronavirus pandemic. President Trump has been a vocal critic of the Chinese government's early handling of the virus, which is believed to have originated at a wet… Read more »

Delegation applauds HHS for awarding over $10.5 million in coronavirus assistance to health centers in Arkansas Fox16 04/08/2020 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 health centers across Arkansas to… Read more »