Dear Friends,

I have listened closely to you as you have shared ideas with me. These are featured in a video series called “Your Ideas” where I highlight some of the ideas that started right here in Arkansas and that, inspired by you, I have put into action in Congress.

In 2015, I formed the Community Empowerment Initiative (CEI). With the CEI, I am identifying opportunities for self-improvement and local solutions that reduce poverty and its pernicious impacts here in Arkansas and across the nation.

I was inspired by the work of my great friends Dr. Fitz Hill, former President of Arkansas Baptist College, and Dr. Jerome Green, President of Shorter College.

Both of these men have innovated to find ways to educate men and women about to be released from incarceration to enable them to be successful in society by giving them both soft skills and job skills.

That’s what inspired my Shift Back to Society Act that I have introduced each Congress.

This bill supports innovation in education by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for those incarcerated Americans about to reenter society. Specifically, it provides grants to HBCUs to help incarcerated individuals successfully find a job and transition back into their communities.

Education leads to better choices, jobs, and more accountability that can help break the cycle of criminal behavior in low-income communities. Each year, my Shift Back to Society Act has been included in appropriations legislation. To learn more, click HERE or on the image below.

Last September, I was joined by Stormy Cubb, Shorter College Director of Sponsored Programs; Dr. Jereome Green; Charles King, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Philander Smith College; Regina Favors, Arkansas Baptist College's Interim President; and George Herts, Dean of the Shorter College Office of Academic Affairs as I introduced the bill once again.

Congressman Hill met with central Arkansas HBCU leaders and students in September 2019 in Little Rock to preview the introduction of the Shift Back to Society Act. Click below to watch highlights from Fox 16.

Participants at the meeting included Stormy Cubb, Shorter College Director of Sponsored Programs; Dr. Jerome Green, Shorter College President; Congressman French Hill; Charles King, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Philander Smith College; Regina Favors, Arkansas Baptist College's Interim President; and George Herts, Dean of the Shorter College Office of Academic Affairs.

It takes only one person to make a difference. If you have an idea about improving our community that you believe I could help with in Congress, please contact me by visiting my website at Hill.House.Gov or by calling my office in Little Rock at (501) 324-5941.

I am honored to represent the great people of Arkansas, and I look forward to hearing from you.

ARKANSAS CONGRESSMEN DEMAND ANSWERS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Taking Action on Your Behalf

Today Congressman Steve Womack, Congressman Rick Crawford, Congressman Bruce Westerman, and I sent a letter to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Andrew Saul, demanding action on a policy that has been directly impacting Arkansans.

We also held a joint press conference to bring attention to this matter and to give those who are victims of the policy a forum to share their stories.

The Social Security Administration is asking Arkansans seeking a replacement Social Security card to surrender their primary identification documents such as drivers’ licenses for as much as thirty days.

This is forcing hardworking moms and dads to choose between violating state law and going without working or attending necessary appointments. While it is important to protect our employees during the current pandemic, this current policy already has had ramifications that have negatively impacted our community.

Our delegation and our staff get up every morning with the goal of taking actions to positively benefit our communities and our constituents.

roundtable with fellow entrepreneurship caucus members

Coming Together to Support Small Business Owners

My fellow Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Entrepreneurship Caucus, Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), joined me for a virtual roundtable with local entrepreneurs to discuss how Congress can support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you to Uday Akkaraju the owner of Bond.AI for lending your insight.

Startups are crucial to our economy’s ability to keep hardworking Arkansans employed and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus poses a threat to thousands of startups and local businesses.

While programs like the Paycheck Protection Program and the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Facility have been a helpful lifeline, Congress needs to ensure we are promoting policies that further innovation, job creation, and economic growth. I enjoyed hearing from our start-up community across the country and look forward to working with my fellow Entrepreneurship Caucus members to find bipartisan solutions.

DISCUSSING FOREIGN INFLUENCE ON OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Students’ Experience with the CCP Confucius Institut

Recently Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that by the end of this year, the Chinese Communist Party-supported Confucious Institutes would no longer be welcome on American campuses.

This initiative was started by College Republicans and College Democrats from across the nation.

Today, I was joined by current and graduated university students, including the leader of this initiative, for a candid discussion about what they have seen on our college campuses.

Our nation’s campuses should not be grounds for indoctrination by the Chinese Communist Party.

National Coffee with a Cop Day

Meeting with Jacksonville Police Officers

I enjoyed celebrating National Coffee with a Cop Day with members of the Jacksonville Police Department yesterday.

Thank you to Police Chief Brett Hibbs, Captain of CID Joseph McCollough, Captain of the Patrol Division Kimberly Lett, and Captain of Grants and Training Ritchie Betterson for welcoming me and for discussing grants, de-escalation strategies, and how officers can best interact with those who are mentally ill and are in need of help.

The best way to ensure better community-based policing is to support our law enforcement agencies with the proper training and the proper funding.

That is why I co-sponsored the Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act, which would promote better police training, accountability, and transparency in our communities.

In addition, House Republicans’ Commitment to America proposes increases in funding for our police by $1.7 billion for better police training, community policing, and the purchase of 500,000 additional police body cameras to ensure the safety and security of all communities.

I am committed to helping our officers keep our communities stay safe and staying safe themselves.

DEADLINE EXTENSION to provide information for economic impact payment

Provide Your Information by November 21^st

If you don't file taxes every year and you are eligible for an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) and have not used the Non-Filers tool, you must register online by November 21^stusing the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool.

For those unable to access the Non-Filers tool, they may submit a simplified paper return following the procedures described in this FAQ on IRS.gov.

Any person who misses the November 21st deadline will need to wait until next year and claim it as a credit on their 2020 federal income tax return.

Those who received their original EIP by direct deposit will also have any supplemental payment direct deposited to the same account. Others will receive a check.

Eligible recipients can check the status of their payments using the Get My Payment tool on IRS.gov.

It is my honor to represent you in Congress.

Please contact me at (501) 324-5941 or Hill.House.Gov if I may be of service to you.

Sincerely,

Representative French Hill