Dear Friends,
Meeting with central Arkansas veterans is one of the highlights of my job, and I'm honored to serve Arkansas's veterans. This past week I hosted a meeting with my Veteran's Advisory Council in Rosebud and listened to veterans from Faulkner, White, and Van Buren counties. Their insights are valuable and provide a wide range of perspectives and experiences regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs and how I can best help all central Aranksas veterans receive the care and services they deserve.
Congressman Hill speaking to his Veterans Advisory Council on February 24, 2020. |
My Veterans Advisory Council meetings, which I established in May 2015, allows me to interact with many central Arkansas veterans and provides open dialogue about the issues facing our former service members today.
These periodic meetings are designed to make sure that our veterans' voices are heard. I appreciated having Rosebud Mayor Shawn Gorham, State Representative Cameron Cooper, State Representative Craig Christiansen, Faulkner County Judge Jim Baker, and White County Judge Mike Lincoln, with us last week.
Congressman Hill with State Representative Craig Christiansen at his Veterans Advisory Council meeting. |
Congressman Hill with White County Judge Mike Lincoln at his Veterans Advisory Council meeting. |
I am proud to have three veterans serving on my staff in Arkansas. All of them work extremely hard making sure their fellow veterans get the benefits they earned serving our country.
My team stands at the ready to help. If you or someone you know needs help with the VA, contact my office at Hill.House.gov or call my Little Rock office at (501) 324-5941.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill
|
| Keeping Arkansans healthy |
I am monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak across the globe. Currently, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Arkansas, but it is important to be prepared and take precautions as this is a rapidly evolving situation.
To prevent Coronavirus infection in the United States, the CDC is recommending that people take the same precautions as they would take to avoid other respiratory illnesses at this time of year, namely:
1. Avoiding contact with sick people.
2. Not touching your face with unwashed hands.
3. Staying home when sick.
4. Covering your cough or sneeze.
5. Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
6. Washing your hands often, especially before eating, after using the restroom, and after sneezing or coughing.
This week, I discussed the current Coronavirus outbreak along with other public health challenges facing Arkansas, with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Secretary, Dr. Nate Smith. ADH has epidemiologists on standby ready to answer questions from the public and health care providers about the outbreak. They can be reached at (800) 803-7847.
Congressman Hill and Arkansas Department of Health Secretary, Dr. Nate Smith. |
Leaders in Arkansas continue to monitor the situation and ask that you keep us appraised of your concerns as it progresses.
If you are in China and need immediate assistance, please contact: CoronaVirusEmergencyUSC@state.gov.
However, if you or a loved one are returning from China and need assistance, or are having trouble returning to the United States due to the virus, please contact Anushree Jumde at (501) 358-3481, or Anna Reckling at (501) 324-5941. Additionally, their emails are anushree.jumde@mail.house.gov and anna.reckling@mail.house.gov.
| Holding the Federal Government Accountable |
This week I named the Department of Defense (DoD) as this month's winner of the Golden Fleece Award, a monthly bulletin on the most frivolous and wasteful uses of hardworking taxpayers’ dollars.
Our federal agencies should hold themselves to the highest standards of oversight and accountability when they allocate taxpayer money. The DoD truly earned the Golden Fleece this month not only for misallocating nearly $1 billion, but for also failing to realize that they could have caught this error if they had simply checked the service-disabled veteran-owned small business database at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The DoD awarded 27 contracts valued at $827.8 million to 16 companies that did not meet the requirements of service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) status. It is also important to note that the DoD relies on contractors to self-certify as an SDVOSB.
To view the letter that I sent to the Secretary of the Department of Defense, Mark Esper, click HERE.
|
| Highlights From This Week |
One of my favorite parts of my week is meeting with Arkansans in Washington. Here are some of this week's highlights:
Civil Air Patrol, the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force, trains for emergency services, aerospace education, and cadet programs. I was joined by two outstanding members of the Civil Air Patrol, Joshua James from Searcy, Cadet Commander of the Little Rock Composite Squadron, and Colonel Bobby Allison, Arkansas Wing Commander, to discuss how they carry out the Civil Air Patrol's broader mission in Arkansas.
Congressman Hill with Joshua James, Cadet Commander of the Little Rock Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, and Colonel Bobby Allison, Arkansas Wing Commander of the Civil Air Patrol. |
As a lifelong outdoorsman, sportsman, and conservationist, I am thankful for the legacy of civic improvement and love of horticulture that both the Little Rock Garden Club and the Garden Club of America instill in our communities.
I was happy to welcome Laura Doramus and Cathy Crass to Washington to talk about my colleagues' and my continued work to address the specific needs of our wilderness areas and national parks by supporting legislation such as the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act that will preserve our wild spaces for generations to come.
Congressman Hill with Laura Doramus and Cathy Crass from the Little Rock Garden Club and the Garden Club of America. |
As an elected official, it’s important to connect with young people and encourage them to become civically active. This week, I connected with high school students from the Arkansas School for the Deaf, Ross, Chase, Kiley, and Kiara, along with their principal, Rayburn Boland, and Superintendent, Dr. Janet Dickinson. I had the chance to learn about their experiences and how their school helps them succeed and be independent in their daily lives.
Congressman Hill with high school students, Ross, Chase, Kiley and Kiara, along with their Principal, Rayburn Boland, and Superintendent, Dr. Janet Dickinson from the Arkansas School for the Deaf. |
Members of Entergy Arkansas, Stephanie Garner, Todd Anderson, Rob Pettit, Ventrell Thompson, Ben Portis, and Ashley Peterson joined me to discuss the importance of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which uses federal funding to empower community agencies to help people who are struggling to afford their energy bills.
Congressman Hill with Stephanie Garner, Todd Anderson, Rob Pettit, Ventrell Thompson, Ben Portis, and Ashley Peterson from Entergy Arkansas. |
|
|
