The impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities on our country is remarkable. While they represent only a small share of American colleges and universities, they produce about 20 percent of all Black college graduates and a remarkable share of Black professionals in fields such as engineering, medicine, law, and education. Nationally, HBCUs generate more than $16 billion in economic impact each year and support well over 100,000 jobs across the country.

At the same time, many of our Historically Black Colleges and Universities face real challenges. Aging campus infrastructure, limited access to capital, and smaller endowments compared to other institutions can make it harder to modernize facilities, expand programs, and compete for resources. These are not new issues, but they are solvable ones if leaders across government and the private sector work together.

One effort to address these challenges is the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, which focuses on strengthening partnerships between HBCUs, the private sector, and philanthropic organizations to help unlock new investment and innovation. The goal is simple: help these institutions modernize their campuses, expand workforce training, and connect students with opportunities in high-demand industries.

Governor Sarah Sanders joined the summit and highlighted her administration’s commitment to supporting Arkansas’s HBCUs. These institutions couldn’t ask for a stronger advocate in the Governor’s Mansion. She has already delivered increased funding for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and invested in workforce and nursing programs that help students translate their education into careers.

I was also honored to be joined by my co-chair of the House HBCU Caucus, the “Godmother of HBCUs” herself, Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), along with Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., and leaders from across the HBCU community.

Thank you to Arkansas Baptist College for hosting us and to everyone who participated in this year’s summit and contributed to such a thoughtful conversation. With the right partnerships and continued investment, Arkansas’s HBCUs will remain powerful engines of opportunity for generations to come.

I had the opportunity to tour the Warrior Airman Readiness Center (WAR Center) at Little Rock Air Force Base this week and learn more about the important work our Airmen are doing there.

The WAR Center plays a key role in strengthening the combat readiness of our Airmen. Through realistic training exercises and continuous improvements based on lessons learned, the program prepares Airmen for current deployments and the more complex conflicts our military may face in the future, supporting the Air Force’s “Accelerate Change or Lose” directive and ensuring our Airmen are ready for the evolving challenges of modern warfare.

During the visit, I met with Col. Metodi Roulev, Deputy Commander of the 19th Airlift Wing and Chief Master Sgt. Matthew A. Pease, Command Chief of the 19th Airlift Wing. They provided valuable insight into the operations of the WAR Center and their vision for the future of the base.

The men and women stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base work every day to protect our country and bring pride to Arkansas. I am grateful for their continued commitment to defending our nation and keeping us safe.

Three years ago, my bipartisan legislation with my co-chair of the House Hostage Task Force, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), was signed into law, establishing March 9th as Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day.

This national day raises awareness about Americans unjustly held abroad and the families who fight every day to bring them home.

My law also designated the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag as the official symbol honoring Americans held overseas by foreign governments. These steps help ensure their cases remain a priority for our country and that those detained are never forgotten.

I have continued building on this work. My bipartisan Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, signed into law last year, gives the State Department stronger tools to deter bad actors who use Americans as political pawns.

Secretary Rubio has already used this authority, designating Iran and Afghanistan as State Sponsors of Wrongful Detention in recent weeks, increasing pressure on regimes that engage in hostage diplomacy.

I will keep fighting to protect Americans abroad, hold bad actors accountable, and bring every wrongfully detained American home.

As Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this week, March 17 also marks an important moment in American history. During the winter of 1775–1776, a young officer named Henry Knox led an extraordinary effort to haul dozens of heavy cannon more than 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. In early March 1776, the Continental Army, led by George Washington, secretly positioned those guns on high ground overlooking the city and its harbor.

When the British awoke and saw American artillery suddenly threatening their ships and troops below, British General William Howe reportedly remarked, “The rebels have done more in one night than my whole army would have done in a month.”

Within days, the British position in Boston had become untenable, and on March 17, 1776, the redcoats were forced to leave the city. Two hundred and fifty years later, Boston still commemorates the moment as Evacuation Day.

Last week’s Trivia: Which team did the Arkansas Razorbacks defeat in the 1978 Orange Bowl? A) Oklahoma

86.5% of respondents answered correctly. 

My Office is Hiring Summer Interns!

Here’s what you need to know if you're interested in applying:

Interns in my office gain valuable insight into the legislative process while directly helping constituents across the Second Congressional District. Opportunities are available in both my Washington, D.C. office and my Little Rock district office.

Responsibilities include answering constituent calls, conducting policy research, assisting with casework, and supporting communications and administrative tasks.

Ideal candidates are self-starters with strong communication skills, a working knowledge of current events and public policy, and a willingness to pitch in wherever needed. Arkansas ties are strongly preferred. Internships may be paid or unpaid, depending on availability.

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to AR02.Applications@mail.house.gov and indicate which office you are applying to. Applications are due by March 27, but will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Click HERE for more information. If you have questions, call my office at (202) 225-2506. We look forward to welcoming the next class of interns to Team Hill.

With no tax on tips or overtime, increased deductions for seniors on Social Security, immediate expensing for small businesses, and more, the Working Family Tax Cuts passed by House Republicans last summer will help put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Arkansans.

To help ensure you are taking full advantage of these new deductions and tax savings, my team is hosting two IRS Outreach Days in partnership with local tax experts*: 

• The Taxpayer Advocate Service
• Legal Aid of Arkansas’ Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
• The non-profit organization Arkansas Asset Builders

Pulaski County
Tuesday, March 17
10 am – 2 pm
Campus Center Building Room 103

University of Arkansas- Pulaski Technical College
3000 West Scenic Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72118

Faulkner County
Thursday, March 26th
10 AM to 2 PM
The Don Owen Sports Center
10 Lower Ridge Rd. Conway, AR 72032 

If you need help navigating a tax issue, we encourage you to stop by and speak with our team.

*Please note, the tax experts will be there to answer your questions, tell you about all the new benefits of the Working Family Tax Cuts, and help you navigate the IRS. They will not be providing tax filing services. 

Submissions for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition are now open!

This competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage artistic talent from across central Arkansas, with the winning artwork displayed for a year in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

I will again be hosting a “Fan Favorite” award, where central Arkansans can vote for their favorite piece. The artwork that wins Fan Favorite will be displayed in my Little Rock office.

This challenge is open to all students in grades 9 through 12 who live in Arkansas’s Second Congressional District. The deadline to submit artwork to my office is Tuesday, March 31 at 12:00 pm CST.

One small change from years past: Students are no longer required to submit a photo of themselves with their artwork.

For more information and full submission instructions, click HERE.

          Last year's winner, "Beyond the Familiar" by Amber Bae.

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 require Real IDs or other accepted forms of 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.