Dear Friends,
This week is National Women's Business Week, and I want to take this opportunity to celebrate all of the women entrepreneurs whose businesses help strengthen our community and our economy.
In May, I visited Candles and Cream Collection in Bryant, Arkansas, which is co-owned by Debbie Broadway and Vickie Collie, which has begun producing hand sanitizer this year in order to fill the increased demand from coronavirus.
I am grateful for hardworking Arkansans such as Debbie and Vickie, whose dedication to their business and entrepreneurial ingenuity during these times promotes community development and economic growth in central Arkansas.
For my part, I have been working hard every day to support our women-owned businesses such as YGFBF Kitchen, which is a minority and women-owned catering business and restaurant located in Conway, Arkansas.
When COVID-19 hit Arkansas, MaryAnn Strange, the small business owner and entrepreneur, took a significant hit. However, with the help of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other small business grants, she was able to maintain her payroll and operations. She’s had her business for four years and built it from the ground up.
For more stories from local businesses who have been impacted by the PPP, click HERE or on the image below.
I am committed to supporting the livelihoods of Arkansas's workers and fostering the growth of our local communities by standing with our small business owners.
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JOIN ME ON FACEBOOK LIVE THURSDAY AT 8:30 AM
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A Discussion with Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Opioid Epidemic |
Tomorrow morning at 8:30AM CT, I am hosting a Facebook LIVE session about COVID-19’s impact on the opioid epidemic in Arkansas and what our state and federal leaders are doing to combat this terrible scourge. I look forward to hearing from Kirk Lane, the Arkansas Drug Director.
We will be discussing this Saturday’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day, an initiative to encourage responsible disposal of expired or leftover prescription drugs. With over 250 drug take back boxes around the state, most open 24 hours a day, we can all contribute to keeping opioids and other prescription drugs off of our streets.
I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to pass common-sense, bipartisan bills addressing the opioid epidemic and I urge our state and local governments to do the same. Only by working together can we hope to solve this problem and ensure that no more families have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to this crisis.
| Expansion at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetary |
Honoring Those Who Served Our Country |
I was honored to visit the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock (ASVC-NLR) in recognition of their Expansion Completion project.
This expansion was made possible by the legislative efforts of myself and Senator John Boozman. We worked together to include legislative language in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which was required for the ASVC-NLR to obtain the land from the Arkansas National Guard. The Expansion Completion project added more than 141 acres to the cemetery in order to keep serving veterans and their family members in central Arkansas. I am very grateful to Bill Wussick from the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs and to ASVC-NLR for their work on this project and for making this event possible.
Thank you to Steve Eggensperger, Lt. Gen. Mark Berry, and Maj. Gen. Kendall Penn for their reflections on the significance of this project, and I thank the ASVC-NLR for giving me the opportunity to speak as well. This ceremony was a wonderful way to commemorate the lives of the many men and women who served our nation.
We will forever cherish the memories of those brave Veterans who have passed, and we must always remember the sacrifices they have made for all of us.
| Opinion piece featured in La Opinión Newspaper |
In the Midst of the Health and Economic Crisis of COVID-19, My Office is Here to Help |
Last week, La Opinión Newspaper featured my opinion piece about specific resources that my office has been providing to help Arkansans get back on their feet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the last several months, I have spoken with central Arkansas families, small businesses, veterans, and local government officials about addressing the negative impacts of the coronavirus.
To read the full piece, click HERE or on the image below. An English translation can be found HERE.
I am committed to ensuring that all Arkansans receive the help they need to make it through this ongoing public health and economic crisis.
| holding federal agencies accountable |
Golden Fleece Award Given to the Department of Commerce |
Last week, I named the U.S. Department of Commerce as the latest recipient of my Golden Fleece Award for failing to provide adequate measures for American businesses seeking to appeal Section 232 tariffs.
Failing to provide transparency and to address ongoing issues with this process is harmful to Arkansas businesses and to address these issues will continue to hurt the American economy.
A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that the Department of Commerce denied 19,000 exclusion requests due to submission errors, but gave no explanation as to what information was submitted incorrectly. The report also stated that Commerce had not met timeliness guidelines for 96% of exclusion requests with objections.
Commerce officials must be more transparent in their exclusion request process so that future transactions are fair to all businesses.
I will continue to protect your hard-earned tax dollars and hold our federal agencies accountable.
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Deadline Approaching for Service Academy Nominations
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Submit Your Application by November 1st |
As your Congressman, I have the distinct honor of nominating central Arkansans to attend one of the five United States service academies.
I want to bring to your attention an important deadline that is coming up.
Applications for a Congressional nomination to the service academies are due to my office by Sunday, November 1st, 2020.
If you are a high school student, teacher, parent, or counselor interested in learning more about the Congressional nomination process, please visit my website for more information.
Our nation’s service academies, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, , and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy provide students with an exceptional academic background and prepare them for a lifeline of service – both to our nation and to their communities.
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
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