In the News

Arkansas businesses can begin applying for no-interest loans Arkansas Democrat Gazette 3/31/2020 Small businesses can begin applying now for up to $7 million in zero-interest loans under an initiative the governor started to help companies navigate the challenging economy. Arkansas bankers and small businesses, meanwhile, are beginning to evaluate the $2 trillion federal… Read more »

Hill responds to public health emergency, introduces legislation to increase U.S. production of medical supplies KARK 3/31/2020 Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) introduced H.R. 6399, the Securing America’s Vaccines for Emergencies (SAVE) Act. This bill amends the Defense Production Act (DPA) to use its authority to ensure the availability of medical equipment. The DPA, which was… Read more »

Arkansas lawmakers urge President to support disaster declaration due to COVID-19 5 News 3/31/2020 U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton—along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman—urged President Donald Trump to support Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s request for a major disaster declaration due to COVID-19. “The resourcefulness of… Read more »

Rep. French Hill to Newsmax TV: Pelosi 'Driving Force' of Waste Newsmax 3/30/2020 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., deserves scrutiny for "her Sunday showmanship" in attempting to stuff the American stimulus bill with Democratic agenda items unrelated to the global coronavirus pandemic, according to Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., to Newsmax TV. "I am always concerned with every… Read more »

Banks press administration to unleash $350B in small business loans Politico 3/30/2020 Banks are pleading for clear guidelines from the Trump administration about how to begin offering $350 billion in small business loans that Congress unlocked last week as part of the massive coronavirus economic rescue package. Private lenders will play a lead role in delivering the… Read more »

Capitol View for March 29, 2020 KARK 3/29/2020 Today on Capitol View, Jay Bir is joined by Congressman French Hill to discuss the new CARES act that was just passed and what it will cover to help during a time of crisis. He is also joined by Dr. Wendell Pahls the medical director of emergency services at Baptist Health to talk about the everyday problems hospitals are… Read more »

Easter deadline called unlikely; it’s more a hope than reality, state’s D.C. lawmakers say Arkansas Democrat Gazette 3/29/2020 WASHINGTON -- Despite President Donald Trump's desire to reopen the country by Easter, most Arkansas congregations aren't decorating eggs or ordering truckloads of lilies. Members of the state congressional delegation say they're skeptical that Arkansas… Read more »

Arkansas cases top 400; lab work lags as supplies dearth foils tests access Arkansas Democrat Gazette 3/29/2020 The coronavirus claimed two more lives in Arkansas as of Saturday, and supply-chain issues have bogged down plans to expand testing in the state, officials said Saturday. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a briefing with reporters that a shortage of supplies and materials to… Read more »

U.S. Coronavirus Rescue Boosts Capital for Global Recovery The Wall Street Journal 3/28/2020 The economic aid legislation signed by President Trump on Friday bolsters the international lending institutions that are gearing up for an unprecedented bailout of the global economy. The legislation boosts capital at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the African… Read more »

State working through backlog of unemployment claims Arkansas Democrat Gazette 3/28/2020 Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston says unemployment claims are backed up, but state officials are working to process those claims. Preston added that the state government will be guaranteeing loans of up to $250,000 for Arkansan businesses, which he said are also being harshly… Read more »