Dear Friends,

I am praying for President Trump and the First Lady. May this moment unite our nation, not as Democrats or as Republicans, but as Americans.

Together, we will get through this pandemic and defeat COVID-19.

I wish them both a speedy recovery, and my thoughts are with the Trump family.

If you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath OR if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, testing is available in Arkansas.

Call ahead to your health care provider or schedule a test at a Local Health Unit, HERE.

According to the Arkansas Department of Health, testing capacity for COVID-19 at commercial labs has increased significantly over the past week. This means a shorter turnaround time for results for you.

In addition, Local Health Units across Arkansas are open later on Tuesdays so that services including flu vaccinations and COVID-19 tests are available after normal business hours.

The health units, which are located in every county in the state, are now open from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

You can find a full list of Local Health Unit COVID-19 Testing Locations HERE.

You also should know that test providers must publish the cash price of tests on their websites so that Arkansans are not faced with surprise charges related to COVID-19 testing.

your ideas make a difference

Expansion of Apprenticeship Programs in Arkansas

During my time in Congress, I have listened closely to you as you have shared ideas with me. I recently started a video series called “Your Ideas” where I highlight just some of the ideas that started right here in Arkansas that, with your inspiration, I put into action in Washington, D.C.

Across the country, every governor is struggling to maximize a motivated, ready, and trained workforce. While good legislation can go a long way toward creating an environment where more people will consider entering the skilled trades, the work doesn't start at legislating.

The most powerful vehicle for change is people from different backgrounds and different political parties coming together to promote an important message.

Voices like those of Arkansas State Senator Jane English inspired me to form the Congressional Skilled American Workforce Caucus with my good friend, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) from Detroit. Together we've met exceptional people who hold the key to growing a more effective workforce.

Brenda has joined me in Little Rock, where we've seen outstanding leadership recognized on the national state. This included the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce's "Be Pro, Be Proud" initiative, which gives young people a hands-on experience of skilled trades, and importantly, how much they can earn.

Thank you to Arkansas State Senator Jane English and Randy Zook, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas for their partnership on this workforce initiative and their participation in this video.

To watch, click HERE or on the image below.

It takes only one person to make a difference. If you have an idea, please contact me at (501) 324-5941.

rebuilding our economy

Signs of Recovery Already Apparent

Not long ago, the U.S. economy was roaring and our country was thriving. A key component of the Republican Commitment to America is rebuilding our economy to its historic pre-pandemic levels and beyond.

Crucial to this mission is supporting small businesses, the backbone of our communities. Our Marshall Plan for Main Street has already saved 51 million jobs and can still save more.

In September, the unemployment rate fell below 8% and employment rose by 661,000 jobs bringing new hires over 11 million in the past five months. This is confirmation that our economy is already making a comeback.

Our commitment to rebuild America will help us overcome these current hardships and make sure that no American is left behind as we return to prosperity.

America Can't go down the road to serfdom: mistakes of the eastern bloc

Reflections 31 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Today we celebrate the 31st anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. We cannot lose sight of the political context and years of struggle that preceded this event. Instead, we must learn from history and take care not to repeat the mistakes of East Germany.

When I first visited Berlin in 1986 and crossed through the famous Checkpoint Charlie, the East side of the city bore almost no resemblance to the West. The flourishing, busy streets of the West were replaced by bullet-ridden buildings, guard towers, and the imposing no-man’s land.

Below: Checkpoint Charlie as it was in 1986.

This surreal experience clearly illustrated the stark differences between the successful free-market policies of capitalism and the prison-like reality of a communist ‘utopia.’ By the 1980s, the Wall and its militarized defenses prevented East Germans from fleeing to the West in search of liberation from communist oppression.

Three years later, I had the privilege of serving President George H.W. Bush as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for corporate finance. In this role, I was part of the immense efforts and resources devoted to helping the people of eastern and central Europe recover from the chains of communism.

Below: Congressman Hill (second from the left) attends a meeting with President George H.W. Bush (center).

As a united Germany moved the East from its restrictive communist shell and began to prosper, it inspired other Soviet Bloc countries to follow suit, ultimately leading to the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. With its new East German citizens assimilating the market-based policies of democratic West Germany, the peacefully reunited German people quickly regained status as a global economic force, and the lives of its citizens have improved dramatically.

It has now been 31 years since the world watched the resilient people of Berlin tear down the physical and ideological wall that divided them. Worryingly, many Americans today seem to have lost sight of the destructive nature of communism. I believe that if our younger generations were alive to see the Berlin Wall and the effects of the Iron Curtain, they would better appreciate the threat that communism poses to individual freedoms and quality of life.

Above: The graffiti on the front of this building in former East Germany says:
"What was spared by war doesn't survive under socialism!"

Above: Ten years later, the building has been repaired, and the neighborhood revitalized.

Some may think it is hyperbolic to compare Cold War communist policies to recent efforts in the United States to nationalize major industries, like energy and healthcare. However, as the Democratic Party pushes further left and embraces socialist policies like “Single Payer“ government healthcare and the Green New Deal, their efforts will inevitably lead to a devalued currency, reduced individual freedom, degraded services, and decreased innovation.

The East German leaders shared the Soviets’ belief that a strong central government could better serve the needs of its people than consumers making millions of individual daily decisions in an innovative, competitive market economy. The result was decades of suppression, hardships and division, until that mindset was overthrown in favor of political and economic policies rooted in freedom.

As we celebrate this anniversary, we must learn from East Germany’s history and not repeat the same mistakes.

SERVING OUR CENTRAL ARKANSAS HEROES

Our Veterans Must Receive the Benefits They Are Owed

Arkansas veterans and their families have honorably served their nation and their state, and it’s my honor to assist them.

I have three combat veterans on staff whose sole mission is to help veterans in central Arkansas.

In September, my team completed 77 cases for veterans, helping them get $79,975 in backpay and other benefits they were owed, and ensuring that their needs are being met.

In total, since 2015, I have recovered more than $23 million in benefits for central Arkansans, and I can help you. Contact me at (501) 324-5941 or Hill.House.Gov for assistance.

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