Dear Friends,
I hope that everyone across Arkansas had an enjoyable holiday season spending time with friends and family.
As we kick off the new decade, I want to share with you all that we have accomplished this past year as well discuss what to expect in 2020.
First, I want to thank all who have interacted with my office and played an important role in joining with me to build a better Arkansas.
In 2019, my team and I:
- helped 1,385 central Arkansans with issues before the federal government
- updated central Arkansans with over 1.5 million letters and emails
- secured for Arkansas veterans over $6 million in benefits and money owed
- supported $1.7 million in federal grants for Arkansas
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I’m guessing many of you who read my weekly e-newsletter had some type of contact with my office this past year; from the bottom of my heart...thank you.
Your perspectives and opinions help me do a better job serving you. The only way to solve challenges we face is through constructive conversations, and I am so grateful to all of you, including many of our local leaders and elected officials, who have worked with my staff and me to build positive solutions for Arkansas.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill
| Legislation Signed into Law in 2019: |
Flatside Wilderness Enhancement Act
We kicked off 2019 signing into law my bill to add 640 acres of wilderness area to the existing National Forest lands next to Forked Mountain, which has been depicted as “Recommended Wilderness Additions since 2005.” Arkansans and visitors alike now have the opportunity to enjoy more of Arkansas’s natural and wild qualities, all while boosting the state’s economy. This addition was named for a tireless conservationist and advocate for Arkansas wilderness and my good friend, former central Arkansas Congressman Ed Bethune.
World War I Valor Medals Review Act
In October 2018, while working with Dr. Brian Mitchell from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, my office presented the family of Leroy Johnston medals he had earned but never received for his service in World War I because, like many soldiers of that era, Leroy Johnston was a victim of discrimination. My bill, the World War I Valor Medals Review Act provides an opportunity to correct this injustice for countless American heroes and their families. This bill requires the Department of Defense to review if more minority service members from WWI are eligible to receive the Medal of Honor. It was signed into law in December as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act
I have heard from countless Arkansans about the struggles of dealing with Agent Orange exposure and the difficulties in getting assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). America owes a great debt to these veterans, which is why I was one of the first cosponsors of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act. This bipartisan bill continues the House’s work of reducing the backlog of VA claims and ensuring our veterans swiftly get the care and benefits they have earned. It was signed into law on June 25, 2019.
Expanding the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery
Expanding the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery ensures that we can continue to honor veterans and their families with fitting tributes that memorialize their service to our country. Transferring this land from the Arkansas National Guard to ADVA is an efficient and effective solution that benefits all Arkansans and enables the continuation of first burials beyond 2045, when the cemetery is currently predicted to reach capacity. It, too, was part of the the NDAA.
Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019
Throughout 2019, we witnessed the people of Hong Kong peacefully protest for their right to live in a free and fair political system. The seven million citizens of Hong Kong were looking to the United States for leadership and we did not let them down. In November, President Trump signed the Hong Kong Democracy and Human Rights Act into law to impose sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights abuses. This was signed into law in November.
Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act
This legislation imposes new sanctions on Syrian human rights abusers and those who facilitate the regime’s atrocities. It also authorizes the State Department to support entities that are collecting and preserving the chain of evidence for eventual prosecution of those who have committed war crimes in Syria since the war began in 2011. The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act is named in honor of the former Syrian military photographer “Caesar” who risked his life to document Assad’s horrific brutality and revealed his findings to members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I have met the real Caesar, and I am a proud co-sponsor of this bill, which became law with the NDAA in December.
Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act
As a lifelong lover of animals, I’m proud to be a cosponsor of the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act that was signed into law on November 26, 2019, with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. This bill will help crack down on animal cruelty by making extreme acts of animal abuse a federal crime.
Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act
This bipartisan legislation permanently reauthorizes more than $250 million in funding for historically black colleges (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions. In Arkansas, HBCUs have served thousands of students and helped them achieve their dreams of a college education. I am proud to represent three outstanding HBCUs in central Arkansas that will be better prepared to serve its students because of the important funding authorized under the FUTURE Act. This became law on December 19, 2019.
USMCA Trade Deal
More than 100,000 Arkansas farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers can celebrate the start of the year knowing that increased exports, more jobs, and rising wages are coming in 2020 and beyond. The Senate is expected to pass USMCA soon and the president has announced that he will sign it into law. I've been on the front lines of this hard-negotiated trade deal for the past three years because it has the greatest potential to directly improve the lives of central Arkansas families.
Shift Back to Society Act
At a time when America has the highest prison population in the world and spends up to $34,000 a year per inmate, it is critical that we enact necessary policies to ensure our criminal justice system is cost-effective while keeping our communities safe and reducing recidivism rates of prison inmates. Central Arkansas's HBCUs are leading the way in offering educational opportunities for inmates returning to society. Inspired by the example of Arkansas Baptist College and Shorter College, I have reintroduced the Shift Back to Society Act which focuses on education as a key component to reducing prison recidivism.
Cooperate with Law Enforcement Agencies and Watch Act
In March 2019, by a vote of 404-7, the House passed my bipartisan bill to provide protections for financial institutions against regulatory backlash due to cooperation with a federal or state law enforcement agency. Allowing banks to keep accounts open that are involved in criminal investigations will help combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and human trafficking. In 2020, I look forward to working with the Senate to ensure this bill is sent to the president's desk.
VA Overpayment Accountability Act
In November, the House overwhelmingly passed by bill to protect veterans from VA errors. The VA Overpayment Accountability Act takes a step towards strengthening that promise to our veterans by addressing the longstanding payment errors at the VA that have burdened too many Arkansas families at no fault of their own. I’m pleased to see this commonsense solution receive overwhelming bipartisan support from my House colleagues and call on the Senate to send it to the president’s desk to be signed into law in 2020.
Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act
If Congress is going to set up fair debt collection practices to hold the private sector accountable, a federal agency collecting a debt from consumers should be held to the same standard. This bipartisan legislation unanimously passed the House Financial Services Committee in November and will protect Arkansas consumers by putting government-hired debt collectors on a level playing field with private debt collectors. Additionally, studying debt collection practices can help identify the right balance between protecting consumers and ensuring that access to credit is not restricted.
Promoting Financial Literacy for Students and Young Adults
As a father, a former community banker, and an investment adviser, I believe that we should make every effort at home and in schools to encourage our kids to develop responsible, financial habits. I was pleased to see my bipartisan resolution unanimously pass the House in 2019. Introducing primary school students to financial literacy and personal finance classes will help create a deeper understanding of earning, saving, and spending money. Acquiring these skills at a younger age allows students to better navigate complicated financial decisions as adults and puts them on a path towards lifelong fiscal prosperity. Getting this bill signed into law will be a priority for me in 2020.
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