Dear Friends,
I wanted to reach out to provide you with an update on two important legislative initiatives that I have worked to support during the 115th Congress to benefit Arkansas's Second Congressional District.
Since coming to Congress, I have sought innovative solutions to the issues facing our citizens in Arkansas. One issue, the education of those recently released from our prison system, was brought to my attention by the good work of one of our Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Arkansas Baptist College (ABC). ABC has worked over the past years to assist those recently released and soon to be released from the prison system in Arkansas and provide them with an education and the skills needed to help them transition back to civilian life. This inspired me to introduce the Shift Back to Society Act (H.R. 799), to establish a pilot program for other HBCUs seeking to provide education services to those in our prison system, and pursue recognition of our HBCUs for their important services.
While I have been hard at work building support for my bill, I was also pleased to see that the recent report for the Fiscal Year 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill included my recommended language to recognize the good work of our Nation's HBCUs to assist those transitioning back to society. The report from the Appropriations Committee states:
The Committee supports the Department’s coordination and collaboration with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to provide educational programs for recently released and soon to be released criminal offenders to assist them in obtaining skills that will help them successfully transition back into their communities and reduce recidivism rates.
I look forward to continuing to work on this important issue to ensure opportunities for those Americans that have served their time, paid their debt to society, and want a second chance at a successful, crime-free life.
Next month, we will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine and their brave role in the fight for equality. In June, I joined Senators Tom Cotton, Patrick Leahy, and civil-rights icon and leader Rep. John Lewis in introducing legislation to expand the historic site boundary at Central High School in Little Rock (H.R. 2611). On July 26, 2017, this bill was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee, which is an important step towards passage of the bill on the House floor and into law.
This bill will ensure the proper historical preservation of this living monument to the civil rights movement in Arkansas and the United States, and I am hopeful that we will be able to pass H.R. 2611 in time for the 60th anniversary.
As Congress continues to work on the important issues facing our great Nation, I am honored to have the opportunity to highlight these important issues for our communities in Arkansas. Never hesitate to reach out to me at www.Hill.House.gov whenever I may be of assistance to you or your family.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill |
