I had a special guest and good friend of mine in town this week, UK Member of Parliament, Rehman Chishti, who represents Gillingham and Rainham in the United Kingdom. We met last year through the State Department's British American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) exchange program, where a Member of Congress and a Member of Parliament are paired together to collaborate and visit the area each other represents.

The United States has a special relationship with the United Kingdom, and by partnering and sharing ideas, we can better strengthen our friendship as we work together on bilateral trade, education, and other important issues.

We had a productive week traveling around central Arkansas, meeting with veterans, students, firefighters, and more. Here are some of the highlights. 

I held the 20th meeting of my Veterans Advisory Council in Beebe on Wednesday. It was an honor to visit with the men and women of White County who have served our country and talk with them about their needs and how my office can help them access the benefits they've rightfully earned.

Spending Time with Bright Arkansas Students 

Since coming to Congress, I have made it a priority to visit schools across central Arkansas to talk with students about their future plans and share important lessons I've learned in the public and private sector. On Thursday, MP Chishti and I visited with students at Episcopal Collegiate School, Immaculate Conception Catholic School, and North Little Rock High School's European History class. We kicked off the visits with the 8th grade class from Immaculate Conception singing happy birthday to MP Chishti. I left these visits confident that the next generation of leaders will continue to lead this country in the right direction.

Honoring Fairfield Bay's Patrolman Fultz 

Patrolman Lyle Fultz with the Fairfield Bay Fire Department is a true hero! He placed his life on the line to save a resident of Fairfield Bay by answering at a residence. When he heard a cry for help, he discovered an older gentleman was trapped inside the residence on fire. Patrolman Fultz entered the smoke-filled building and rescued the older gentleman and pulled him to safety. It was great to join Fairfield Bay Mayor Paul Wellenberger in congratulating him! 

What an honor to witness Patrolman Fultz receiving the well-deserved Regional Officer of the Year Award for the Northwest Region at the Law Enforcement Summit hosted by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

Advocating for Long-term Health of Buffalo National River 

Algae growth has plagued our nation’s first national river and one of Arkansas’s most prized rivers, Arkansas’s Buffalo National River, which is why Congressman Womack (R-AR) and I sent a letter to the National Park Service this week, advocating for its long-term health. Not only is the Buffalo National River the ultimate icon of the Natural State, it is an essential economic engine for the Ozark region. I am committed to taking additional action to ensure the Buffalo National River is protected and preserved for future generations.

I visited with the Fairfield Bay Fire Department that was awarded $150,000 from FEMA through the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program. I supported their grant application and am excited they were awarded with these critical funds. I am thankful for the men and women of Fairfield Bay who risk their lives to protect their neighbors. With the new breathing apparatus, they'll be able to better perform their job while keeping them safer from the hazards they face daily.

Seeing the New Fairfield Bay Hotel and "Tiny Homes" Project 

Representative French Hill