Dear Friends,

As the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis continues to impact our families, communities, and businesses, scammers see this pandemic as an opportunity.

Below are some common scams and ways to avoid falling victim to these bad actors.

Do Not Fall for Fake Charities Disguised as Helping the Military and Veterans

There are individuals out there who are posing as veterans' or military charities and asking for donations from well-intentioned Arkansans. These scammers are taking money from good people and diverting resources away from legitimate charities who help our men and women who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge released the following tips to help consumers ensure an organization’s legitimacy before giving money:

Ask questions before giving. Only give when comfortable that the donation will support a trustworthy organization or activity. Refuse high-pressure appeals. Legitimate charities will not rush a donation.

Ask for written information or research the organization online. A legitimate charity will send information that provides the organization’s mission and how the donation will be used, along with proof that the contribution is tax deductible.

Call the charity directly. To avoid falling victim to sham solicitors, personally contact the charity before giving a donation by email, to the person knocking at the front door, or to a telephone solicitor to ensure it is not a scam.

Do not send cash. For security and tax records, make donations by check or credit card.

Search the Arkansas Charities Database for more information on charities in Arkansas, including those benefiting service members and their families.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a video with tips on how to stop veteran charity scams. To watch, click HERE or on the image below.

Be Aware of False "Cures"

You should also be vigilant for possible scams related to COVID-19 such as so-called "cures" or people posing as fake government agencies to take your money or personal information. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is NOT going door to door and offering COVID-19 testing in exchange for money and personal information. If someone comes to your door, contact the Arkansas Attorney General's office at 800-482-8932 or report the incident HERE.

To report fraud related to the COVID-19 public health crisis, you can also call the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721), or email the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov, or visit their website HERE.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Recommends These Tips to Avoid Scammers

Don’t respond to texts, emails, or calls about checks from the government. Visit the IRS website HERE for factual information on the one-time tax rebate.

Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits. There are no products proven to treat or prevent COVID-19 at this time.

Hang up on robocalls. Scammers are using illegal robocalls to pitch everything from low-priced health insurance to work-at-home schemes.

Watch for emails claiming to be from the CDC or the World Health Organization (WHO). Use sites like coronavirus.gov and usa.gov/coronavirus to get the latest information.

Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know.

Do your homework when it comes to donations. Never donate in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money.

Do Not Fall for Social Security Scams

The Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Andrew Saul has reminded the public that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments will continue to be paid on time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, please note that the Economic Impact Payment established by Congress in the CARES Act is paid to eligible individuals and couples by the Department of Treasury and not the SSA.

To allow available agents to provide better phone coverage, the SSA has temporarily changed its call hours for (800) 772-1213 to 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT. The agency is experiencing longer than normal wait times for its phone services and asks the public to remain patient, use its online services HERE, or call their local office.

Local offices are closed to the public but are available by phone. To find your local field office phone number use the Field Office Locator HERE.

"VA Meds Now" Scam

The fraudulent company that sent the flyer below does not have any contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and does not have permission to use the VA logo. The VA will pursue legal action against this company if they don’t cease and desist this business solicitation.

If you receive this scam email, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov, or report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. You can also report cyber scams by submitting your complaint through https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.

Remembering the legacy of a civil rights icon

Honoring the Memory of Congressman John Lewis

Like many Americans, I woke yesterday to the sad news that one of our greatest citizens lost his fight against pancreatic cancer.

Martha and I have heavy hearts as we reflect on the news of the passing of my friend and colleague, Congressman John Lewis. Five years ago, we had the incredible experience of walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with Congressman Lewis to honor the 50th Anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Selma.

I value the time I shared with Congressman John Lewis: both the fun times like when he learned the Navy was naming a ship after him and poignant times on the House floor working on to expand the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.

His legacy will live in Little Rock through the enhanced Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, and I will be forever proud and grateful for his partnership in that effort. Our prayers are with Congressman Lewis’ family and friends who have lost an irreplaceable North Star.

We'll miss John Lewis. But he lives on with the leadership he delivered in the 1960s, his three decades in Congress, and, now, the USNS John Lewis sailing the seas.

I joined America’s News Headquarters to talk about the legacy of Rep. John Lewis and to share some of my treasured memories with him.

To watch the full interview, click HERE or on the image below.

The House of Representatives is a poorer place without John Lewis' beautiful voice and his beautiful message that brought our House together.

We'll honor his legacy for decades to come.

McNew family bridge dedication

Connecting the Banks of Black Fork Creek in Faulkner County

Earlier this week, I attended a bridge dedication ceremony on Blythe Road with Ben McNew, Faulkner County Justices of the Peace Kris Kendrick, Jerry Boyer, Randy Higgins, Mayors Sammy Hartwick, Randy Holland, Sam Higdon, Wesley Tyus, and Terry Robinson. During my address, I thanked Judge Jim Baker for his leadership in establishing the McNew Family Bridge over Black Fork Creek in Faulkner County.

This bridge would not have been possible without the strong partnership between the state and federal government, which helps build better roads and better bridges across Arkansas. Senator Mark Johnson, Representative Stephen Meeks, and Representative Stephen Magie were also essential in making this happen.

recognizing Arkansas's history

Connect With Arkansas Museums Over Social Media

Arkansas has a unique history that is important to learn from and recognize. Several years ago when Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden visited Arkansas, I had the privilege of showing her some of our great state's museums, including the Historic Arkansas Museum, where I was joined by my friend Swanee Bennett, the museum's director, we also traveled to Helena and visited the Helena Museum of Phillips County.

In the wake of COVID-19 museums across the state have had to close to visitors. I encourage you to connect on your local museum's websites or on their social media pages.

The Helena Museum of Phillips County recently highlighted an amazing quilt that Dr. Carla Hayden and I were able to admire when we visited.

As stated by museum curator Joseph Lee, this "handmade patchwork quilt that was created by the ladies of St. John's Episcopal Church in the early 1880s. The quilt was used as a reward in a church raffle in 1886 and was won by a resident of Pine Bluff. In 1930, Charles and Ethel Young purchased the quilt and donated it to the museum. According to church lore, some of the patches were made by ladies from the patches respective state."

Section for the state of Arkansas.

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette highlighted the Arkansas museums offering virtual tours.
To read the whole article, click HERE.

The virtual tours include:

Wings of Honor Museum

More than seven hours of oral history can be viewed on the website of this Walnut Ridge museum devoted to Arkansas military veterans and their families.

The 11 interviews recount challenges on battlefields and the home front. Especially vivid are the memories of Curtis R. Lamb, an Army Medical Corps sergeant in Europe during World War II. He tells about dealing with American dead and wounded, as well as being present at the liberation of a Nazi concentration camp. To access, click HERE.

Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center

Visitors to the website of another museum under Arkansas State University's aegis can roam the house and barn-studio in Piggott where Ernest Hemingway wrote part of For Whom the Bell Tolls.

The room-by-room tour is an animated creation that aims to show the property as it looked during Hemingway's time in northeast Arkansas with his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. To access, click HERE.

Shiloh Museum of Ozark History

Sixteen online exhibits on this Springdale museum's website add up to a nearly encyclopedic survey of life in the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks going back to prehistoric times.

Four of the offerings look separately at the counties of Boone, Carroll, Madison, and Newton. Other topics include farming, rodeos, railroads, lumbering and the building of Beaver Lake. To access, click HERE.

Lum & Abner Museum

Much-needed chuckles can be evoked by logging on to the site of the Lum & Abner Museum in the hamlet of Pine Ridge. Starring Chet Lauck and Tuffy Goff, Lum & Abner's radio show fortified the hillbilly image of Arkansas across the nation from 1931 to the middle 1950s.

An online highlight from the museum is the colorful posters of the seven Hollywood movies starring Lum & Abner. Their titles resonate with whimsy: Partners in Time, The Bashful Bachelor, Dreaming Out Loud, Goin' to Town, 2 Weeks to Live, So This Is Washington, Lum & Abner Abroad. To access, click HERE.

Recognizing ICBA and Little Rock Venture Center

Support for Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders

Recently, I recognized the Independent Community Bankers Association (ICBA) and the Venture Center, located in Little Rock, AR on the House Floor for renewing their partnership and commitment to the ThinkTECH Accelerator program for an additional three years.

To watch my speech, click HERE or on the image below.

The ThinkTECH Accelerator brings community banks and fintech innovators together to develop new technologies for community banks and their customers. This renewal will keep technology entrepreneurs coming back to Arkansas for mentorship and much-needed capital.

I look forward to working alongside the ICBA, the Venture Center, state leaders, and our communities to continue aiding our banks and enhance our economy here at home.

Update to the Mainstreet lending program

Greater Access to Credit for Nonprofit Organizations

I am pleased that the Federal Reserve has modified the Main Street Lending Program to benefit nonprofit organizations like educational institutions, hospitals, and social service institutions.

The Main Street Lending Program was created with funds allocated to the Treasury Department when Congress passed the CARES Act.

The Federal Reserve Board approved two new loan options to provide support to a broad set of nonprofit organizations that were in sound financial condition prior to the pandemic.

To view the nonprofit organization expanded loan facility term sheet, click HERE.

To view the nonprofit organization NEW loan facility term sheet, click HERE.

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