Dear Friends,

I applaud Arkansas state government’s quick action, including Governor Hutchinson’s disaster declaration. The Administration responded promptly, and I am glad that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was enabled promptly to provide direct assistance to Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.

It is important to take precautions for COVID-19 during this time even as Americans begin to recover from this storm. In Arkansas, the Red Cross prepared congregate and non-congregate shelters to better allow for distancing between evacuees.

Your local office of emergency management will be assessing damage before FEMA, so if your property was impacted by the storm please contact one of the offices below:

Conway County

Office of Emergency Management Website | Facebook | (501) 354-3577

Faulkner County

Office of Emergency Management Website | Facebook | (501) 450-4935

Perry County

Office of Emergency Management Facebook | (501) 889-1566

Pulaski County

Office of Emergency Management Website | Facebook | Twitter | (501) 340-6911

Saline County

Office of Emergency Management Website | (501) 303-5648

Van Buren County

Office of Emergency Management Website | (501) 253-5377

White County

Office of Emergency Management Website | (501) 279-6277

It is important to note that due to COVID-19, FEMA is implementing over-the-phone inspections in place of in-person inspections for damages.

If your property has been damaged by the storm, here are a few steps you can take to file a claim with your insurance.

VISITING CHI ST. VINCENT WITH SENATOR JOHN BOOZMAN

Thanking our Morrilton Health Heroes

On Friday, my good friend Senator John Boozman and I heard directly from doctors, nurses, and staff about what they face every day, and what is needed to help them do their jobs effectively at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton.

We are incredibly grateful for every health care worker who is on the front lines fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you to CHI St. Vincent's Bubba Arnold for moderating our socially distanced discussion and all of the healthcare professionals for speaking with us about what Congress can do to bolster rural health care and help defeat the coronavirus.

Senator Boozman and Congressman Hill join CHI St. Vincent leadership congratulating and thanking Stacy Baker, Respiratory Therapist, for her faithful service.

making healthcare more accessible

Federal Funds for UAMS to Improve Telehealth

I am pleased that the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) was awarded a $949,995 Telehealth Focused Rural Health Research Center Cooperative Agreement grant by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help improve healthcare for rural areas.

Helping those who do not have easy access to healthcare is especially vital as we continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

These funds will be used by UAMS to conduct research on how telehealth is being used in rural areas, and how this new way of conducting medicine can be improved.

This research will assist decision-makers at the federal, state and local levels by examining the impact of investments of telehealth services in rural communities on access to health care, population health/health indicators, health care spending (both for payers and for the patients receiving the services), quality of care, value based care, workforce, business strategy, and clinical delivery of care.

PARTICIPATE IN MY WOMEN'S VETERANS INITIATIVE

Listening to Our Female Service Members

My Women's Veteran Initiative is intended to advocate for female veterans and their specific needs while highlighting resources that are available and identifying new ways that we can ensure female veterans are being heard.

On September 17^thI am holding a roundtable discussion regarding issues women face when it comes to navigating life after the military. This roundtable will include representatives from Senator John Boozman's office, Representative Rick Crawford’s office, staff members from Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, and the Veterans Benefits Administration.

To participate, please contact my office at (501) 324-5941 or Hill.House.gov

Help me better serve the women veterans of central Arkansas by clicking HERE or on the image below to take my survey.

Take the #eaglescoutchallenge

Calling all Current and Future Eagle Scouts

Joining the Boy Scouts of America was one of the most important decisions of my life. As a member of Troop 27 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Scouting gave me the opportunity to learn about leadership and responsibility. It instilled in me a lifetime love of the outdoors.

Congressman Hill with Eagle Scout Philip Ball of Troop 30 and his father Brian Ball at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor in May of 2019.

I encourage all scouts to share their stories by taking the #EagleScoutChallenge.

Compared to the weeks or months you spent working on your actual Eagle project, the challenge is quite simple. All you have to do is share the story of your Eagle project on social media and nominate another scout to participate as well.

Some things to consider when posting your challenge:

Tell the what, why, and how of your project. Why was/is it important — to you and to your community?

Keep it short and simple. Challenge yourself to tell the full story in 280 characters, even if you aren’t posting on Twitter and subject to a character limit.

Include a photo or video if possible. Dig out that box of BSA photos or swipe back through your camera roll.

Be sure to include the hashtags #EagleScoutChallenge and #scoutingstories, which will make it easy to find other Eagle Scouts sharing their stories.

Tracking Down Your Tax Return

Advocating on Your Behalf to Federal Agencies

Are you still waiting on your 2019 tax return? If so, I can help.

Over the past few months, I have helped dozens of Arkansans receive their refunds. This week my office reached $300,000 returned to central Arkansans since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently my office was able to help a central Arkansan who reached out to my office for assistance after the IRS had informed her that she would not receive one this year. Thanks to my team investigating the matter, we were able to help her get the $2000 return that she was due.

We were also able to assist a gentleman whose family mistakenly claimed a tax credit that they were ineligible for. The IRS flagged their tax filing stopped their federal return. Because the IRS is currently backlogged by 4-5 months on average due to the pandemic, the IRS had not looked at their filing.

My office filed a Congressional request which prompted the IRS to consider this family's dire need and fix the issue quickly and return $10,000 which will go a long way this school year.

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