In the News

Rep. Hill Votes To Extend Federal Government In Hopes Of Finalizing COVID Relief Bill 
KUAR NPR
12/18/2020

U.S. Rep. French Hill of Arkansas’ 2nd district said Friday he remained “cautiously optimistic” that Congress would pass a nearly $1 trillion coronavirus economic relief package. With talks moving slowly and lawmakers not able to pass a bill by a Friday midnight deadline, he joined a majority in voting to pass a two-day stopgap spending bill that night to avert a partial government shutdown.

The Associated Press reported negotiators said they were making progress Saturday, with House members standing by for a possible vote on the take-it-or-leave-it behemoth bill on Sunday. It would include more than $300 billion in aid to businesses, provide unemployed people a $300 a week bonus federal unemployment benefit, renew state benefits that would otherwise expire after Christmas, and give $600 direct payments to individuals.

Hill, a Republican of Little Rock, said in an interview with KUAR News that he is adamant about passing assistance before Congress takes its winter break.

“I think both sides know that this is what is the right thing to do for the American people. It’s something that many of us have talked about since July and we’ve tried to move constructive packages on the House floor about 40 times since that date, all of which have been blocked,” Hill said. “Now I think there’s consensus that it’s critical that we get COVID-19 relief and that there’s support for that both in the House and the Senate.”

But a key roadblock that emerged Friday involved Republican leadership working to rein in emergency Federal Reserve lending powers, which Democrats say would deprive President-elect Joe Biden of crucial tools to manage the economy.

If an agreement is reached, House leaders will likely only have a few hours to study it before voting on Sunday.