Dear Friends,

The crisis at the border is getting worse, and President Biden is making decisions and implementing policies that are only inflaming the situation.

Last Thursday, I joined nearly 60 of my colleagues to make sure that the American people know how President Biden’s immigration policies are creating one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent years and developing an unsafe environment for all Americans.

The Biden Administration is not being straight with the American people. He calls the border crisis caused by the out-of-control influx of illegal immigrants a “challenge.”

On his first day in office, President Biden immediately halted construction of the border wall and revoked a national emergency declaration implemented by President Trump. President Biden has opened the door for illegal immigration and other nations are watching.

In fact, the number of children detained at the U.S.-Mexico border has tripled over the past two weeks, and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests fell by 60% last month. There is a clear imbalance that is jeopardizing our border security.

I will continue to support policies and legislation that keeps the Arkansas and the United States safe and secure. The Biden Administration is encouraging illegal immigration by drastically reducing arrests and revoking actions of President Trump. That’s weakening the border – not strengthening it.

PROTECTING THE 2ND AMENDMENT

Republicans and Democrats alike both share a common goal of ending gun violence.

I have consistently supported meaningful solutions to reduce gun violence.

However, House Democrats’ H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446, which both passed the House, would not have stopped any of the recent incidents of gun violence and only infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun-owning citizens.

-> H.R. 8 would impose redundant background checks that already occur on all gun sales and would not have stopped any mass shootings of the past.

-> H.R. 1446 undermines the National Instant Criminal Background Check System background system by allowing the FBI to delay retail firearm sales.

I have and will continue to oppose legislation that takes rights away from law-abiding Arkansans and Americans, especially when it comes to the 2nd Amendment.

UPDATE: WALMART ADMINSTERING COVID-19 VACCINES

As of today, nearly 800,000 Arkansans have received their COVID-19 vaccination according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies are now administering the COVID-19 vaccine with help from the U.S. Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. This adds to Walmart’s existing vaccination program with more than 2,000 pharmacies nationwide, including 58 in Arkansas.

Central Arkansans now can receive the vaccine at these locations:

Walmart Supercenter 4460 – Address: 12001 MAUMELLE BLVD, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
Sam's Club 4749 – Address: 1250 SOUTH AMITY RD, CONWAY, AR
Walmart Supercenter 24 – Address: 2000 JOHN HARDEN DR, JACKSONVILLE, AR
Walmart Supercenter 4168 – Address: 2003 W. CENTER ST, BEEBE, AR
Walmart Supercenter 2575 – Address: 3900 DAVE WARD DR, CONWAY, AR
Walmart Supercenter 3230 – Address: 400 BRYANT AVE, BRYANT, AR
Sam's Club 8266 – Address: 5600 LANDERS RD, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
Walmart Neighborhood Market 2743 – Address: 8801 HIGHWAY 107, SHERWOOD, AR
Sam's Club 8104 – Address: 900 S BOWMAN RD, LITTLE ROCK, AR

Eligible customers can book a vaccine appointment directly via the Walmart and Sam’s Club websites (membership not required) once appointments become available.

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has opened their call line this week to help Arkansans get connected to a vaccine location. The call line can be reached at (1-800-985-6030).

You can find additional vaccine locations across central Arkansas through the ADH’s interactive map HERE.

I encourage you to stay safe and continue to follow the CDC guidelines as vaccines continue to roll out in Arkansas and across the country

PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNS DEMOCRATS’ PARTISAN SPENDING BILL INTO LAW

Until this week, each of the four COVID relief packages passed by Congress were on a bipartisan basis.

Instead of following that approach this time, and despite promises of bipartisanship and unity, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democrats jammed through a giveaway bill, which they misleadingly have named “relief”.

Meanwhile, $1 trillion from the previous four packages still has not been deployed – funding passed by Congress to directly benefit Arkansans and American families and small businesses including $280 billion in the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, $239 billion in health spending, and $59 billion in education funding.

I continue to say that Democrats should be prioritizing getting that out funding before spending any more taxpayer dollars.

Only 9% of the funding in this spending package is related to COVID relief while the other 91% fulfills the Democrats’ political wish list, including billions to bail out states that don’t need a bailout, stimulus checks for prisoners and illegal immigrants, and billions on education that cannot be spent until after 2021.

We should be focused on getting Americans vaccinated, reopening our shuttered small businesses, and returning the economy to its full capacity – not adding more to our nation’s debt under the false name of “emergency relief.”

NEW SURVEY VESSEL & 50^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MCCELLAN-KERR ARKANSAS RIVER NAVIGATION SYSTEM

This week, Hunter of my staff joined Brigadier General Christopher Beck, Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District Commander Colonel Eric Noe, and others at the 50th anniversary celebration of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS).

The 445-mile navigation channel has played an important role for commerce in Arkansas, making the river navigable and connecting the American heartland with world. Hunter also joined local USACE workers for a dedication ceremony for a new Survey Vessel in the Little Rock District named for Robert Peevy, the first black surveyor for the Little Rock District on the Arkansas River.

Sincerely,

Representative French Hill