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| COVID-19 Update | August 4, 2020 |
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During my time in Congress, I have listened closely to Arkansans as they have shared their good ideas with me. Your ideas always help me best represent you. Sometimes your ideas have led to bills that became law or solutions to some of our state’s and nation’s most pressing issues such as health care, economic development, protecting our environment, and best serving our veterans. I recently started a video series called “Your Ideas” where I highlight just some of the ideas that started right here in Arkansas and are now in action in Washington – including one to fight the deadly opioid epidemic. Because of one person’s input, Senator Tom Cotton and I introduced a bill to help fight fentanyl trafficking, and I am proud to report that this bill, the Fentanyl Sanctions Act, was included in the annual defense bill that passed the House last week. This means hope for families across the country and the state that their loved ones won’t fall victim to those wishing to do them harm. To watch, click HERE or on the image below.
In March, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the CARES Act, which provided an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) to help Arkansans deal with these challenging times. I was appalled when I learned that many Arkansans are still waiting for that payment. The unresponsiveness by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has gone on long enough. Senator John Boozman, Senator Tom Cotton, Congressman Rick Crawford, Congressman Steve Womack, Congressman Bruce Westerman, and I sent a letter to the IRS Commissioner seeking action on behalf of Arkansans.
Are you still waiting for your EIP? Contact me at Hill.House.Gov or call (501) 324-5941 for help.
I joined Katy Tur and Chuck Todd on MSNBC to discuss the next round of COVID-19 funding and the lack of sufficient testing reagents, as highlighted in the letter that my Arkansas colleagues and I sent to Vice President Mike Pence two weeks ago. Hospitals across the country have had their internal COVID-19 testing capacity severely limited due to a shortage of reagents, chemicals needed in the testing process. Arkansas, unfortunately, is no exception, and we need action now. To watch, click HERE or on the image below.
As we head into the fall, I have been listening and have heard that Arkansas parents and educators want assurances that schools can safely reopen as children return to onsite learning. We know that even with the significant efforts of parents and teachers, many students were unable to keep up with distanced learning and were left behind, which is not an option for the 2020-2021 school year. Providing Arkansas students with the best chance at success, especially amid these challenging circumstances, is of the utmost importance. That is why I introduced the Helping Educators with Learning Preparation, or “HELP”, Act. This bill assists elementary, middle, and high school students to safely and successfully transition to distance learning or socially distanced, in-classroom instruction by creating a grant program to provide state and local school entities with the resources they need going into the fall. I am grateful for the assistance of local educators and parents including those from Guy-Perkins School District, Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, the Arkansas State Teachers Association, and the Arkansas Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in crafting a bill that would have a meaningful impact on our students this coming school year. To learn more, read my op-ed (below) that appeared in the Log Cabin Democrat on July 23rd.
In July 2020, my team helped deliver to 40 veterans – more than two per day –the backpay and other benefits that they were owed. This is part of our effort to make sure that the needs of our veterans are being met. Ensuring that our central Arkansas veterans have access to the benefits and care that they have earned and deserve serving our country is one of my top priorities as your representative to Congress.
It is my honor to represent you in Congress. Please contact me at (501) 324-5941 or Hill.House.Gov if I may be of service to you
Since the Paycheck Protection Program began, here in Arkansas we have seen over 42,000 small business loans totaling over $3.3 billion. These funds represent thousands of jobs still in place across the state thanks to the PPP. I am proud to share the stories of small businesses in our community who have benefited from this program, including Arkansas Destinations (Jana Cohen, owner), the Conway Institute of Music (James Skelton, owner), and the Robust Olive (Jill Cady, owner). To learn more, click HERE or on the image below.
These businesses received assistance from the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), which is dedicated to helping small businesses achieve success. If you are a small business trying to navigate this difficult time, through a PPP loan or otherwise, please contact me for further information. It is my honor to represent you in Congress. Please contact me at (501) 324-5941 or Hill.House.Gov if I may be of service to you. Sincerely,  Representative French Hill |
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