Dear Friends,
From storming the beaches of Normandy to enlisting in the military after the Twin Towers fell, our veterans have demonstrated unwavering patriotism and their stories deserve to be heard.
Over the past six years, I have teamed with the Library of Congress to permanently preserve the oral history of Arkansas veterans as part of the Veterans History Project. Dlayne Tucciarone of my team continues with this important initiative today.
In Arkansas, we are collecting the stories of our veterans who served – whether in WWII, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the Veterans History Project. By participating in this program, future generations will be able to hear directly from veterans and better understand their service to our country.
If you are a veteran, or you know a veteran who would like to share their personal story, please contact Dlayne Tucciarone at (501) 324-5941.
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CELEBRATING VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS DAY |
Each year on September 29th, our country recognizes those who have defended American values from enemies around the world. I have always looked forward to Veterans of Foreign Wars Day as a chance to celebrate the brave members of our armed forces who have put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. We will forever remain in their debt and we must always remember the sacrifices they have made for all of us.
I was honored to meet with a group from the Arkansas Chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars to discuss the hardships often faced by veterans. We are holding up five fingers to represent the five signs of emotional suffering that we can notice in our loved ones.
Rates of suicide and homelessness among veterans are unacceptably high, as I mentioned in my recent op-ed in the Log Cabin Democrat. We all must fight for those who have fought for us!
If you or a veteran you know needs assistance, visit my website at Hill.House.Gov or call my Little Rock office at (501) 324-5941.
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STANDING AGAINST THE ABUSE OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND |
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As the world continues to battle the effects of COVID-19, countries like China have attempted to line their own pockets through lobbying the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for billions in relief through new Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).
SDRs mean a cash infusion without obligation or restrictions for countries like China, Russia, Iran, Syria, and Venezuela, and I am against this. House Democrats on the other hand, including House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters, are for this.
As the Lead Republican on the Subcommittee on National Security, Monetary Policy, and International Institutions of the House Financial Services Committee, I am urging opposition to the flawed SDR proposal.
As I wrote in my recent op-ed in The Hill, the better solution is for the IMF to provide direct assistance to the nations that need it most. Despite these trying times, the United States must maintain its leadership role on the global stage and ensure accountability in the allocation of economic aid.
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SUPPORTING AFTERSCHOOL PROVIDERS |
The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for our communities and increased the burdens on many organizations that serve our youth. While I have been proud to fight for these organizations through my work on previous congressional funding bills, they still need our help.
As schools remain closed, essential personnel who cannot work from home need out-of-school options that are safe and productive for their children. Even with the absence of in-person school, I am working to ensure that our youth have access to programs that will stimulate growth both academically and socially. This includes identifying funding for the expansion of out-of-school education programs in the summer and fall. |
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS NEED TO SUPPORT STRUGGLING FAMILIES
On Monday, I spoke with Tom Keene on Bloomberg Television on why Congress must unite and provide economic relief to Arkansas’s families and small businesses.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Arkansas’s small businesses have suffered. The CARES Act in March greatly assisted these small businesses through programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which is responsible for 43,000 loans to keep tens of thousands of Arkansans employed.
Last Friday, I signed Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler’s discharge petition demanding Speaker Nancy Pelosi hold a vote to extend the PPP. That’s one of the top ways to get relief into Arkansas quickly to help our small businesses, restaurants, and hotels recover.
With $138 billion appropriated for COVID-19 relief, Democrats must join Republicans in calling for the extensions of the PPP and come to a bipartisan consensus on improving unemployment compensation.
As your Congressman, I will continue to support legislation that will benefit our hard-working Arkansas families and small businesses.
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL WEEK OF THE DEAF
As a member of the Congressional Deaf Caucus, I know how important it is for hearing-impaired Americans to have the resources they need to succeed in their day-to-day lives and to stay informed on the COVID-19 health crisis.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, with many hearing-impaired Arkansans forced to stay at home, Arkansans need to be informed. That is why my Caucus colleagues and I requested that President Trump provide sign language interpreters at all press briefings.
This access to information was one of the topics I discussed with student from the Arkansas School for the Deaf Leopards, which provides deaf students with resources to help them become independent in their daily lives. These students shared with me their experiences and taught me about their school’s programs to assist them with their academic pursuits.
For more information on resources for the deaf during the COVID-19 health crisis, visit HERE.
FULFILLING OUR CIVIC DUTY
If you haven’t already, please complete the 2020 U.S. Census.
Wednesday, September 30, is the deadline.
As stated by Article I of the Constitution, the Census will take place every decade and will help local, state, and federal governments to assist their citizens. The Census will fundamentally impact Arkansas over the next decade, particularly with determining how much federal funding will be allocated to our local communities for services such as schools and medical clinics.
To get started, visit www.2020census.gov, or call 844-330-2020.
As your Congressman, I urge each and every Arkansan to do their civic duty and complete the Census.
Rep. French Hill urges central Arkansans to complete the U.S. Census |
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill
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