Dear Friends,
During the month of February, we celebrate the birthdays of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and observe Presidents’ Day to honor all who served in our nation’s highest office. This year, it feels especially important to reflect on the legacies and lessons of our past presidents.
As our nation continues to recover from COVID-19 and grapple with the aftermath of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, we should remember that our nation has stood the test of time through other periods of division and hardship thanks to the leadership of American presidents.
May we remember the words of President Lincoln’s famous second inaugural address: “With malice toward none; with charity for all … let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds…”
As we pause tomorrow to observe Presidents' Day, I hope all Arkansans and Americans will remember the lessons of the presidents who have gone before us and strive toward a more perfect union.
GETTING YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE
Arkansas is currently receiving about 40,000 vaccine doses per week, approximately a 23% increase since mid-January. While demand remains high, I am proud that Arkansas has one of the highest per capita vaccination rates in the nation. I encourage all Arkansans to get the vaccine when they are eligible.
On Friday, approximately 58 Walmart locations across the state began receiving 10,000 vaccine doses per week directly from the federal government. Vaccines will also be available soon at federally approved community health centers (CHCs).
You can go online to find an approved pharmacy near you or sign up for an appointment at Baptist Health and UAMS. Please contact my office if you have questions or concerns about vaccine distribution.
On Thursday, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that VA health facilities would receive a one-time supplemental allocation of 200,000 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses from the Department of Health and Human Services. This distribution is in addition to the VA’s normally scheduled delivery of approximately 125,000 doses of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines each week.
Currently, VA is offering the COVID-19 vaccine to Veterans already receiving care from the VA, based on CDC and VA risk criteria. If you're eligible to get a vaccine, your VA health care team will contact you.
Veterans who are not enrolled or do not currently receive care at the VA can visit the VA's Eligibility web page to learn more: Eligibility For VA Health Care | Veterans Affairs
I am continuing to monitor the vaccine distribution process and will keep Arkansans updated as I learn more information.
SERVING ARKANSAS VETERANS
My staff and I have been busy working on behalf of the more than 50,000 veterans who live in central Arkansas. I am committed to ensuring that those who have served our nation receive the highest quality of care and benefits. If there is anything I can do to help, please do not hesitate to reach out. Contact my District Office at (501) 324-5941.
On Wednesday, my Veterans Team hosted our first mobile office hours of 2021 at St. Francis House in Little Rock to assist veterans with TRICARE, medals, VA health, widow benefits, pensions, disabilities, and other critical issues. If you are a veteran or know of a veteran who could not attend, please contact our District Representatives for Military and Veterans Affairs.
Veterans in Pulaski County are invited to join me on February 17th at 2:00 PM CT for a virtual meeting of my Veterans Advisory Council. This is the first of 2021, and we will have a lot to talk about.
If you would like to attend, please call my office to RSVP or send me an email at Hill.House.Gov/Contact.
I am proud of my Veterans Team for their dedicated efforts to include Arkansas veterans in the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.
Back in December, they interviewed U.S. Army Specialist Michael Springer to discuss his time serving in our military and record his memories for future generations.
SPC Springer served from January 29, 2002 – November 5, 2005, during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad, Iraq.
If you are a veteran and you would like to participate in the Veteran History Project, contact my District Representative, Dlayne Tucciarone, at (501) 324-5941.
KEEPING FAMILIES HEALTHY AND SAFE
During the ongoing pandemic, many Americans remain uninsured or underinsured and still need affordable health coverage. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has determined that COVID-19 presents exceptional circumstances for consumers in accessing health insurance and will provide a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals and families to apply and enroll if they need coverage. Starting on February 15, 2021, and continuing through May 15, 2021, eligible Arkansans can apply for new coverage or update an existing application through the HealthCare.gov platform.
For more information, visit the HealthCare.gov website or call my office at (501) 324-5941.
CALLING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO HOLD CHINA ACCOUNTABLE
For three decades, China has not played by the rules.
President Biden should not return to the status quo of hoping for reform from the Chinese Communist Party when that approach has not worked in the past. It did not protect our intellectual property rights, it did not create fair markets and trade with China, and it did not force China to honor the territorial rights of other countries and the human rights of its own citizens.
Democrats in Congress are calling on the International Monetary Fund to give China $170 billion. Having the IMF issue special drawing rights (SDRs) to all member countries would do more harm than good because the relief is not targeted, and it will not help developing countries struggling during the pandemic.
On Monday, I joined Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business to discuss my op-ed in The Wall Street Journal about how House Democrats and Senate Democrats plan to bail out China and how House Republicans will hold President Biden accountable for his China policy.
SAVE THE DATE: VETERANS JOB FAIR AND OUTREACH
On April 7, 2021, I am hosting a job fair for central Arkansas veterans. If you’re a veteran who has recently begun the transition to civilian life or lost your job due to COVID-19, I invite you to attend this job fair. Col. Nate Todd, Arkansas Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will be in attendance to answer your questions and hear your concerns.
To RSVP, please call my District Office at (501) 324-5941 or email me at Hill.House.Gov/Contact.
THANKING ARKANSAS HEALTHCARE HEROES
Arkansas healthcare workers have been working overtime since March 2020 to keep us safe and healthy during the pandemic.
Over the weekend, my staff and I delivered Valentine’s Day baskets to Cornerstone Pharmacy, Medicine Man Pharmacy, Mayflower Family Pharmacy, and Harps Pharmacy in central Arkansas to thank our healthcare heroes for their dedicated service. We are grateful for their commitment to Arkansans’ health and safety.
The next time you go to your local pharmacy or visit a doctor's office, take a moment to say thank you to our healthcare heroes.
I will continue to ensure our state’s healthcare workers have the resources they need to keep us safe as we recover from COVID-19.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill |
