The Main Street Capital Access Act

We are carrying that momentum into the new year by focusing on the backbone of local economies: community banks and Main Street lenders.

This week, in my role as Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, I introduced the Main Street Capital Access Act to revitalize community banks.

As a former community banker in central Arkansas, I saw firsthand how one-size-fits-all regulations hurt small banks and the communities they serve. The current regulatory framework does not make sense for local lenders.

The Main Street Capital Access Act makes meaningful reforms to reduce unnecessary compliance burdens and encourage new community bank formation.

Put simply, it ensures local lenders can focus on serving families, small businesses, and local economies, helping make life more affordable and strengthening Main Street across America.

One specific example is housing. Today, two-thirds of one to four-family home construction loans are made by smaller banks, and Arkansas has many excellent community lenders.

By lowering compliance costs, this legislation will allow those banks to lend more to families looking to build new homes.

There is still more work to do to make life more affordable. You do not dig out of an economic hole created by years of mismanagement and high inflation overnight.

Congressional Republicans, working with President Trump, are committed to continuing this work and delivering real results for Arkansans.

You can watch my press conference HERE or learn more about the Main Street Capital Access Act HERE.

Rep. Hill, Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, announces the Main Street Capital Access Act with committee members.

House Republicans are doing our part to move Congress back toward responsible governance. This week, the House passed three additional appropriations bills, bringing us halfway to fully funding the federal government for fiscal year 2026.

These bills fund critical areas, including:

• Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
• Commerce, Justice, Science
• Energy and Water

That is how Congress is supposed to work, debating and voting on spending bills instead of relying on last-minute continuing resolutions.

These bipartisan bills cut wasteful spending, advance conservative priorities, and protect key resources that Arkansas families and communities rely on.

During the appropriations process, I worked to ensure central Arkansas priorities were included, from inland waterways and rural energy capabilities to wetlands conservation, clean water access, and law enforcement programs.

This is the kind of responsible, transparent governing the American people expect, and it is what House Republicans are working to deliver.

To learn more about these three bills and how they benefit central Arkansas, click HERE.

Friday was Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, a chance for communities across the country to pause and recognize the men and women who keep our neighborhoods safe. Law enforcement officers serve with professionalism, courage, and a deep commitment to the people they protect, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances.

That is why I am an original cosponsor of the Law Enforcement Appreciation Day resolution, which encourages Americans to recognize the efforts of law enforcement and creates an opportunity for communities to thank their local officers.

It’s National Arkansas Day, marking the anniversary of Arkansas becoming the 25^th state to join the Union in 1836, and an opportunity to recognize what makes our state such a special place to call home.

From the Delta to the Ozarks to our capital city of Little Rock, Arkansas is defined by hard work, strong communities, and a deep sense of pride in where we come from. Our state has a long tradition of service, entrepreneurship, and resilience, values that continue to shape our future.

I am proud and humbled to represent central Arkansas and to fight every day for the people who make this state great.

Courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Last week’s Trivia: The first Times Square ball dropped in 1907. What was it made of? D) Iron and Wood

40.5% of respondents answered correctly. (26.1% selected "Crystal and Glass;" 19% selected "Copper and Wire.")

The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime has announced several grant opportunities to help communities provide services, housing, and support for victims of human trafficking. Here is a list of grant opportunities:

Deadline: Grants.gov 02/24/2026 11:59 p.m. EST and JustGrants 03/03/2026 08:59 p.m. EST

• Housing Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking
• Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking
• Preventing Trafficking of Girls
• Specialized Human Trafficking Assistance: Supporting Survivor Engagement in Anti-Trafficking Programming

Deadline: Grants.gov 03/11/2026 11:59 p.m. EST and JustGrants 03/18/2026 08:59 p.m. EST:

• Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
• Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking
• Services for Victims of Human Trafficking

You can learn more by clicking HERE or by contacting my Little Rock office: (501) 324-5941

My office can arrange tours of the Capitol and many other sights in Washington, D.C., on behalf of you and your family during your stay. Please note: White House tours require Real IDs or other accepted forms of ID, such as a valid passport or U.S. military ID.

If you and your loved ones are planning on visiting Washington, D.C. in the coming months, I recommend you reach out to my office to request tours as soon as possible HERE.

If you have any questions about your visit to Washington, D.C., please call my D.C. office at (202) 225-2506.