Dear Friends,
As the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis continues to impact our families, communities, and businesses, scammers see this pandemic as an opportunity.
You should be vigilant for possible scams related to COVID-19 such as so-called "cures" or people posing as fake government agencies to take your money or personal information. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is NOT going door to door and offering COVID-19 testing in exchange for money and personal information. If someone comes to your door, contact the Arkansas Attorney General's office at 800-482-8932 or report the incident HERE.
To report fraud related to the COVID-19 public health crisis, you can also call the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721), email the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov, or visit their website HERE.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Recommends These Tips to Avoid Scammers
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- Don’t respond to texts, emails or calls about checks from the government. Visit the IRS website HERE for factual information on the one-time tax rebate.
- Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits. There are no products proven to treat or prevent COVID-19 at this time.
- Hang up on robocalls. Scammers are using illegal robocalls to pitch everything from low-priced health insurance to work-at-home schemes.
- Watch for emails claiming to be from the CDC or the World Health Organization (WHO). Use sites like coronavirus.gov and usa.gov/coronavirus to get the latest information.
- And don’t click on links from sources you don’t know.
- Do your homework when it comes to donations. Never donate in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money.
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Do Not Fall for Social Security Scams
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Andrew Saul reminded the public that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments will continue to be paid on time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, please note that the tax rebate established by Congress in the CARES Act will be paid to eligible individuals and couples by the Department of Treasury and not the SSA.
To allow available agents to provide better phone coverage, the SSA is temporarily changing its call hours for (800) 772-1213 to 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT. The agency is experiencing longer than normal wait times for its phone services and asks the public to remain patient, use its online services HERE, or call their local office.
Local offices are closed to the public but are available by phone. To find your local field office phone number use the Field Office Locator HERE.
"VA Meds Now" Scam
The fraudulent company that sent the flyer below does not have any contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and does not have permission to use the VA logo. The VA will pursue legal action against this company if they don’t cease and desist this business solicitation.
If you receive this scam email, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov, or report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. You can also report cyber scams by submitting your complaint through https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.
Watch Out for Price Gouging
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and our state government have been working to prevent price gouging and to crack down on scam artists who are taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis.
The president has also authorized the Department of Justice, working with the Department of Health and Human Services, to prosecute price gouging and hoarding of “scarce” items.
When Governor Hutchinson declared a state of emergency on March 11th, Arkansas's price gouging laws automatically went into effect.
This state law prevents individuals or businesses from increasing product prices by more than ten percent of what the product would have cost prior to the state of emergency declaration. Violators can face criminal charges and fines as well as civil penalties of up to $10,000 per incident. Arkansans can report price gougers to the Attorney General’s Office at ArkansasAG.gov or call (800) 482-8982. Click HERE or on the image below to watch Arkansas AG Leslie Rutledge discuss the penalties for price gouging.
Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips to avoid price gouging:
- Know the average price for goods like hand sanitizer, soap, and non-perishable food items before purchasing. If it seems too high, ask questions.
- Avoid high-pressure sales tactics to purchase items that claim to keep you healthy.
- When possible, deal with established, reputable businesses in the community.
- Stay updated on the latest risks, warnings, and prevention tactics at CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
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| Help for central Arkansas Veterans |
VA Extending Financial, Benefits, and Claims Relief to Veterans |
On April 3, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced new measures to support our nation's heroes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The VA released the following financial relief actions which will continue until further notice:
- Suspending all actions on veteran debts under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department.
- Suspending collection action or extending repayment terms on preexisting VA debts, as the veteran prefers.
For benefit debts, veterans can contact the VA Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648 to make arrangements.
For health care debts, veterans can contact the Health Resource Center at 1-888-827-4817 to make arrangements.
The benefits and claims relief actions include giving veterans the option to submit their paperwork late for the following actions:
- Perfecting claims
- Challenging adverse decisions
- Submitting Notices of Disagreement
- Submitting Substantive Appeals
- Responding to Supplemental Statements of the Case
Veterans requesting claim extensions can simply submit them with any late-filed paperwork and veterans do not have to proactively request an extension in advance. For added convenience, VA will also accept typed/digital signatures instead of wet signatures on its forms. Those with questions can call 1-800-827-1000.
For veterans who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and need immediate action on their appeals, as opposed to a filing extension, the Board of Veterans' Appeals will Advance their appeal on Docket (AOD). Click HERE to find out how to file for AOD and what documentation is required.
Through this unprecedented public health and economic crisis, we cannot forget our heroes. Ensuring that our central Arkansas veterans have access to the care that they have earned serving our country, is one of my top priorities. My team of veterans stands at the ready to help their fellow veterans through this trying time. If you or someone you know need assistance with the VA or any government agency, please reach out at Hill.House.gov or call my Little Rock office at (501) 324-5941.
| Grants Available for women-owned small businesses |
Supporting Entrepreneurs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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The Women's Foundation Arkansas (WFA) has an assistance fund dedicated specifically for women-owned small businesses experiencing economic hardship due to the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. WFA is prepared to champion these entrepreneurs and businesses by providing $5,000 grants.
Applications for the first round of funding are open now and will close on Monday, April 13, 2020 at 12:00 PM CT. If your business is chosen to be a recipient of the first round of funding, you will be notified by Friday, April 17, 2020. To apply, click HERE.
| ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR ARKANSAS SMALL BUSINESSES |
Information Regarding the Paycheck Protection Program |
The United States Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program went live on April 3, 2020. It authorizes up to $349 billion toward job retention and other expenses for the millions of Americans employed by small businesses.
Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, veterans’ organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards. For additional information from the Treasury's website, visit HERE.
Which banks in Arkansas are ready to provide Paycheck Protection Program loans?
The chart below outlines the current Small Business Administration (SBA) lenders in Arkansas. The ones under the preferred status are current preferred 7(a) lenders with the SBA and have the authority to provide PPP loans. Other banks should be granted authority in the near term.
| Preserving Arkansas's history |
African American Civil Rights Historic Preservation Fund Grant |
Monday, the National Park Service announced that Friends of Dreamland’s Taborian Hall Preservation and Access Project was selected to receive a $499,723 African American Civil Rights Historic Preservation Fund grant, part of Heritage Documentation Programs, NPS.
Completed in 1918, Taborian Hall became a centerpiece of the African American community in central Arkansas and showcased musical greats like Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, B.B. King, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dizzie Gillespie during its heyday. In recent decades, Taborian Hall had fallen into disrepair and would likely have been demolished had Kerry McCoy and Friends of Dreamland not purchased it with the vision of restoring it to its former glory. I was proud to be a partner in furthering their goal.
I commend the National Park Service for allocating nearly $500,000 to preserve the living monument’s importance in the struggle for equality.
| Arkansas Schools Closed for the year |
Resources for Learning at Home |
On Monday, Governor Hutchinson declared that Arkansas schools would be closed for the remainder of the academic year as we practice social distancing and work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Keeping children on track with their education during these trying times is a unique challenge, and I wanted to share some resources to help. For more, visit my website HERE.
Arkansas PBS is partnering with the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) and the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to fill the learning gap caused by school closures around the state.
Last week, Arkansas PBS began broadcasting “Arkansas Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI)” statewide.
These broadcasts are streamlined, curriculum-based programming for the state’s pre-K through 8th grade students.
The content of "Arkansas AMI" aligns with current state and federal standards and is flexible enough to serve as both supplemental and as primary instruction for students, based on the needs of school districts. All lesson plans are being developed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Educators and parents will have access to bilingual lesson plans and curriculum materials tailored to the PBS content to HERE.
"Arkansas AMI" will air Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on your local PBS station.
Additional Resources for Parents and Educators:
- The Smithsonian offers free, high-quality educational tools to keep students entertained and engaged. Access HERE.
- The Library of Congress provides resources to assist teachers in future lesson planning and provides families with free-books, author talks and more. Access HERE.
- The National Gallery of Art gives families ways to engage with the Gallery's features online. Access HERE.
- The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee has also released a guide with helpful STEM options to keep students engaged. Access HERE.
- The Space Foundation’s team of educators has created a new webinar series now available for free online to help teachers and parents keep students engaged in learning while at home. It covers information like how to use Zoom, write grants, create a scale Play-Doh solar system, map with LIDAR, the basics of telescopes, and making space-themed crafts. Access HERE.
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has created a comprehensive list of educational applications and platforms to help parents, teachers, and schools. Access HERE.
- The Barbara Bush Foundation for Literacy Educational Toolkit for At-Home Learning offers free online resources that can help children continue to build critical literacy skills while schools are closed. Access HERE.
| Golden Fleece Winner for March |
Kennedy Center Ends Paychecks for National Symphony Orchestra |
Hours after receiving $25 million in funding when the CARES Act was signed into law, the president of the Kennedy Center, Deborah Rutter, told the National Symphony Orchestra that paychecks would end that week.
Not only does the Kennedy Center receive a $43.5 million taxpayer dollars annually, the CARES Act included a substantial $25 million specifically for the Kennedy Center. Rather than keeping staff and artists employed during this unprecedented time so that they can care for their families and economic livelihood, the Kennedy Center chose to not pay them despite receiving the funds to cover their losses.
That is why I have awarded the Kennedy Center my Golden Fleece Award for March. In my letter announcing that the Kennedy Center was this month's winner, I urged Rutter to reconsider her action and notify Congress of any future rectification of this news.
About the Golden Fleece Award:
Every year, Congress appropriates trillions of dollars to fund the federal government, and every year the federal government wastes portions of these funds in unconscionable ways. In an attempt to increase accountability for every single government program, Congressman Hill decided to bring back the Golden Fleece Award.
Originally introduced by Democratic U.S. Senator from Wisconsin William Proxmire in March 1975, the Golden Fleece Award was a monthly bulletin on the most frivolous and wasteful uses of hardworking taxpayers’ dollars. The Golden Fleece Award became a staple in the U.S. Senate during this time, and Senator Robert Byrd once stated that the awards were “as much a part of the Senate as quorum calls and filibusters.”
In reviving this idea, the Golden Fleece Award will again have the opportunity to serve as an important reminder to taxpayers about the need for necessary, commonsense reforms to our federal spending.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill
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