In his first days in office, President Biden has already let his promises to American workers fall by the wayside in favor of a far-left wish list.

The Biden Administration’s decision to terminate the Keystone XL Pipeline will cost the United States thousands of high-paying American jobs and raise energy prices for American families. Similarly, policies like re-entering the Paris Climate Accord provide no accountability for polluters like China and unfairly punishes U.S. manufacturers. These actions undermine U.S. energy independence and place an undue burden on our industries during a period of economic uncertainty.

On Friday, I held a press conference at Welspun’s headquarters in Little Rock with local businesses and workers who have been harmed by President Joe Biden’s Executive Order halting the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. In addition to placing Welspun workers at risk, this decision hurts those selling steel coils, loading and unloading barges on the Arkansas River and on the Port of Little Rock short-line rail, plus many other supplies.  

As your representative in Congress, I am fighting to protect the jobs of hard-working Arkansans.

HONORING AN AMERICAN HERO

On Tuesday, I was honored to present U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant (Ret.) Robert Davis with two medals for his service during the Vietnam War.

MSgt. Davis retired in 1975 but never received the proper commendation for his service in Vietnam. MSgt. Davis contacted my office in May of 2020, and on December 29, 2020, the United States Air Force determined that MSgt. Davis was deserving of the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.

Although it was a nearly 50-year wait, I was proud to recognize MSgt. Davis for his brave service to our country. I'm grateful to my Veterans Team for working diligently over six months to ensure MSgt. Davis received the awards he deserved.

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CLAIMING ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS UNDER 17

The COVID-19 relief bill passed in December 2020 included $600 Economic Impact Payments for dependents under 17 years of age. Friday, January 15th, was the deadline to receive both your EIP and any EIP for each qualifying dependent via direct deposit. Dependents 17 years of age and older do not qualify for EIPs. This includes college students and other adult dependents.

Please note that it may take several weeks for you to receive payments in the form of a paper check or an EIP pre-paid debit card. 

If you have not received Economic Impact Payments for yourself or your qualifying dependents, you can claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 taxes. I encourage Arkansans to file their taxes as soon as possible. As per the IRS, even if you usually don’t file taxes, it is the only way to claim your first or second EIP, as well as EIPs for qualifying dependents.

For more information on the Economic Impact Payments and the Recovery Rebate Credit, please visit the IRS website HERE.

If you have questions, please contact me at (501) 324-5941 or Hill.House.Gov.

ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS

Hearing from Arkansans about the issues important to them is a critical part of my job. Last week, I hosted a conference call to take your questions and discuss your concerns about the issues facing you and your family.

We discussed the COVID-19 vaccine, policies proposed and enacted by the new administration, election integrity, and other issues important to central Arkansas.

 

On Thursday, I met with Col. (Ret.) Robert Ator, who was appointed by Governor Hutchinson to oversee the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Arkansas.

The federal government has increased the supply of vaccines available to Arkansans by 16%. More than 400,000 doses have been sent to Arkansas. The increase in doses available and their distribution efficiency will help fill the gaps we have seen across counties.

I am thankful for Col. Ator's leadership and his efforts to implement a consistent and efficient strategy to distribute Arkansas's supply of COVID-19 vaccines.

The following hospitals in central Arkansas are administering the COVID-19 to those in phases 1-A and 1-B:

• Baptist Health
• UAMS
• CHI St. Vincent
• Unity Health
• Conway Regional

Vaccines are also available at local pharmacies. CLICK HERE to find a pharmacy location near you.

UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE OF CONGRESS

President Biden has begun his term with a slew of executive actions, more than 40 and counting. Governing by executive order is not the right way for the president to begin his first 100 days. Governing by executive action undermines the important constitutional role the Founders granted to Congress and President Biden’s pledge for unity and consensus in Washington. Going forward, I hope that President Biden will instead work with Congress on a bipartisan basis.

My full op-ed in the Log Cabin Democrat.

CALLING OUT GOVERNMENT OVERREACH

At the start of the pandemic, hand sanitizer and PPE were in short supply. Seeing a need to help their communities, America’s distilleries stepped up to produce hand sanitizer at little to no profit for frontline workers and families.

However, in the week between Christmas and the New Year, and after a painful financial year for many of these distilleries, they received a surprise notification that they now owed the FDA more than $14,000 for their willingness to step in and help their fellow Americans.

For their overreach and the poor timing of this announcement, I gave the FDA my Golden Fleece Award. While I am glad the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) overrode the FDA's decision to enforce these fees, this should not have happened in the first place.

The federal government shouldn’t stand in the way of small businesses that step up to help their communities in times of national crisis.

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HELPING ARKANSAS VETERANS  

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the approval of the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System as one of only 12 new Fisher House program priority sites to keep veterans and their loved ones together during medical care. Fisher Houses provide short-term, no-cost housing to families and caregivers of hospitalized active-duty or retired military members and veterans who do not live within commuting distance of a hospital.

This funding was long overdue and is welcome news to central Arkansas veterans and their families. Along with my Veterans Team, I have been advocating for a Fisher House in central Arkansas since my first year in Congress. The men and women who serve our country in uniform deserve top-notch medical care with the peace of mind and comfort of having their families close by during their recovery and rehabilitation processes.

Sincerely,

Representative French Hill