Dear Friends,
Arkansas’s Second Congressional District is home to many of our brave veterans and service members at the Little Rock Air Force Base and Camp Robinson. I believe it is absolutely imperative that we ensure that our veterans, service members, and their families receive the care and benefits they have earned and deserve.
Throughout this pandemic, my team of three combat veterans has been delivering solutions for central Arkansas veterans. Many of our heroes have been impacted by the closing of the local U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offices and Veterans Benefits Administration offices for health care and other services, as well as feeling the isolating effects of social distancing.
Through these challenging times, my veterans team stands with their peers and is helping veterans receive the care and benefits they have earned while serving our country.
My team of combat veterans is directly helping Arkansas’s veterans get the benefits that they have earned and deserve. Since 2015, my team and I have closed 3,996 cases and recovered more than $26 million in back pay and benefits for Arkansas's veterans.
This past month, my team helped an Army veteran from Little Rock secure a 60% disability rating, and $80,000 in back pay because of the Blue Water Navy Act, which I supported.
His claim had been put on hold in part because he was unable to get his military records. My veterans team stepped in and put in a congressional request for his records, which helped to speed the process of compensation as well.
Sadly, after my team began working with him, this veteran's granddaughter suffered a heart attack and was put on life support. His family was faced with refinancing their home to put the funds together for the funeral and travel costs.
The day before they left, his wife had their bank account pulled up on her phone and asked "is this real?" The $80,000 in back pay my office helped them obtain had been deposited to their bank account allowing them to keep their home.
Over the years, my team has helped veterans like this one, and we can help you too. Contact my office at Hill.House.Gov or call my office at (501) 324-5941.
April 10, 2019: I introduced H.R. 2249, the World War I Valor Medals Review Act. This bipartisan legislation would review the military records of minority service members of the Armed Forces during WWI to determine if they should be awarded the Medal of Honor. It was signed into law as a part of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
April 2, 2019: I introduced H.R. 2033 to transfer nearly 140 acres of land at Camp Robinson to the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to facilitate the expansion of the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. This legislation was also signed into law as a part of the FY 2020 NDAA.
June 25, 2019: President Trump signed into law H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act. I voted for this bill when it passed the House in May 2019. This bill extends presumptive coverage for Agent Orange exposure to “blue water” Vietnam veterans, who served up to 12 miles off-shore in Vietnam.
January 29, 2019: With my support, the House passed H.R. 840, the Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act. It makes permanent the VA Child Care Pilot Program and expands it nationwide.
July 31, 2019: President Trump signed into law H.R. 2196. I supported this bill when it passed the House in June 2019. This legislation expands access to a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) scholarship program for student veterans.
June 6, 2018: President Trump signed into law S. 2372, the VA MISSION Act. On May 16, 2018, with my support, it passed the House 347-70. It builds upon the VA Accountability Act that was signed into law in 2017. It also funds the Veterans Choice Program, which helps veterans get medical care in their community – all paid for by the VA.
My Veterans Advisory Council, established in May 2015, allows me to talk directly to veterans across central Arkansas and facilitate a constructive dialogue about the issues they are facing in our communities.
Through the COVID-19 pandemic, my Veterans Advisory Council has met virtually and I have listened to the challenges that our central Arkansas veterans are facing.
These quarterly meetings are designed to be an open forum for central Arkansas veterans to discuss veteran related issues. The council meetings ensure that the veterans in Arkansas’s Second District are having their voices heard.
In September, I kicked off my Women's Veteran Initiative (WVI) with a virtual roundtable. I heard directly from women veterans in our community how I can best serve them, and shared resources available for female veterans in central Arkansas.
I started the WVI to bring together women veterans to advise me on needs specific to you and your loved ones and to highlight the resources available to you.
If you would like to participate in the next discussion, contact Dlayne Tucciarone in my office, who is a fellow woman veteran, at (501) 324-5941 and Dlayne.Tucciarone@Mail.House.Gov.
Help me better serve the women veterans of central Arkansas by clicking HERE to take my survey.
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
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