Representative French Hill

Friends,

When the Fisher House opened in September, my team had the idea to reach out to local schools and ask if their students would make cards for our veterans. We thought it would be a simple way to lift the spirits of the veterans and their families staying at the Fisher House.

We anticipated that maybe five schools would participate. To our astonishment, students from thirty schools participated, and now we have well over a thousand cards and letters. The patriotism and kindness of our teachers and the kids across the Second District is just incredible.

Ahead of Veterans Day, my team collected the cards and handed them out to veterans at the events we attended on Tuesday. They were a huge hit.

We still have many more, and we will continue to share them with veterans at the McClellan Veterans Hospital, the new Fisher House in Little Rock, and other local veterans organizations during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and beyond, so those who have worn the uniform are reminded of how much they are respected, valued, and loved by the communities they served.

The outpouring from our kids, from this generation of young Arkansans, says it all.

Thank you to our veterans for your courage, dedication, and sacrifice.

Here is a list of the schools that participated and photos of my team picking up the cards from the schools.

Veterans day in central arkansas

My team and I spent Tuesday celebrating and honoring our veterans across Arkansas’s Second District, from Conway to Bauxite, Clinton, Hot Springs Village, and Little Rock. I so enjoyed visiting with veterans and their families and sharing many of the kids' wonderful thank-you cards.

And of course, I stopped by Julie's Sweet Shoppe for their annual Veterans Day event, one of my favorite local traditions, and I shared a salute to our veterans at the State of Arkansas ceremony.

I was also looking forward to attending the celebration of our Gold Star families, but I had to return to Washington to vote to reopen the government. Fortunately, several veterans on my team were there for this solemn event to show our respect and gratitude for the sacrifice these families and their fallen loved ones made to our great nation.

In all, we attended six events honoring our veterans across central Arkansas. Veterans Day is always a wonderful celebration across our district and a humble reminder of the debt we owe to the men and women who have worn the uniform in defense of our nation and to the families who stand beside them.

a day in perry county

Perry County had a big morning on Monday as I gathered with local leaders to mark two projects that will be a real boost for the community. In Perryville, we cut the ribbon on the new Veterans Service Office just in time for Veterans Day. Located next to the senior center, the new VSO will make it easier for local veterans and their families to access the benefits and support they have earned.

I also joined officials on Stony Point Road near Houston to celebrate major improvements made possible through county and state road funding. Green Bay Packaging was a great partner in this key economic growth project. They and other local employers will benefit from these upgrades that help strengthen the local economy.

Thank you to Perry County Judge Larry Blackmon, Perryville Mayor John Roland, Perry County Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Donnie Crain, State Representative Mary Bentley, and all the local leaders who brought these projects to life. I am grateful to be part of a community that shows what is possible when we work together to build a better future.

the government shutdown is over (finallY)

After more than forty days of a needless shutdown, the government is finally open again. This has been a frustrating period full of fear and uncertainty for families across Arkansas. It will take a while for things to fully ramp up and clear the backlogs, but we can now look ahead and begin moving back toward normal.

This means that the SNAP and WIC programs have been funded, air travel will begin to improve as Air Traffic Controllers and TSA agents return to full operations, and our friends and family members who work in federal service are back on the job and receiving their paychecks again.

This ridiculous and pointless shutdown was unnecessary and avoidable, but now it is time to focus on what needs to be done. Our farmers need help, our businesses need certainty, and our families need solutions that make life more affordable, and I am ready to continue my work on the issues that matter most to Arkansans.

If you have questions about how the government reopening impacts you and your family, please reach out to my office.

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

This month is a reminder that screening for lung cancer saves lives, but awareness is often what’s missing. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer among both men and women in the United States, with an estimated 226,000 new cases expected in 2025. Yet fewer than 6 percent of eligible Americans receive routine screenings.

A simple, low-dose CT scan can detect lung cancer early, when treatment is most effective. Annual screening is recommended for adults ages 50 to 80 with a history of heavy smoking who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

If you or a loved one meets these guidelines, talk with your doctor about scheduling a screening. You can also learn more about risk factors, prevention, and coverage for screenings by clicking HERE.

White House Open for the Holidays

Last week, the White House announced that public tours will resume on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

In celebration of the holiday season, all December tours will showcase the White House Christmas decorations on the State Floor.

If you’re interested in visiting, my office can assist with submitting a tour request on your behalf. Tour availabilities for December will open 30 days before each date, and January 2026 tours are expected to be released in December.

WEEKLY TRIVIA

WHAT WAS VETERANS DAY ORIGINALLY CALLED WHEN IT WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 1919?

A) REMEMBRANCE DAY

B) ARMISTICE DAY

C) PATRIOTS DAY

D) VICTORY DAY

Last week’s Trivia: Who was the first president to live in the White House? B) John Adams:

During the final year of his only term as president, John Adams moved into the newly completed but still largely unfinished President’s House on November 1, 1800, the building we now call the White House.

46.1% of respondents answered correctly. (27.7% answered James Madison; 16.4% chose Thomas Jefferson)

America 250: Celebrating the U.S. Marine Corps

Happy 250th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps!

For two and a half centuries, Marines have stood on the front lines of freedom with unwavering courage, discipline, and honor.

To every Marine in central Arkansas and across our nation, thank you for your service, sacrifice, and commitment to defending America. Semper Fi!

The Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington Ridge Park overlooking Washington, D.C.

Tours of the U.S. Capitol Building

Capitol Tours have resumed!

Now that the government is open again, my office can arrange tours of the Capitol and many other sights in Washington, D.C., on behalf of you and your family during your stay. Please note: White House tours will require Real IDs or other accepted ID, such as a valid passport or U.S. military ID.

If you and your loved ones are planning on visiting Washington, D.C. in the coming months, I recommend you reach out to my office to request tours as soon as possible HERE.

If you have any questions about your visit to Washington, D.C., please call my D.C. office at (202) 225-2506.