Hill, French RSS Articles

RELEASE: HOUSE PASSES HILL'S MAIN STREET CAPITAL ACCESS ACT

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed H.R. 6955, Rep. French Hill's (AR-02) Main Street Capital Access Act, by a vote of 270-155-1. As Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Hill led the effort to pass the bill alongside Financial Institutions Subcommittee Chairman Andy Barr (KY-06). The bipartisan bill revitalizes local bank formation and ensures community lenders can focus on serving families, small businesses, and local economies, making life more affordable for Americans and empowering Main Street.

Rep. Hill said, “As a former community banker in central Arkansas, I know how important our Main Street banks are to our local economy. From growing cities like Conway to our smallest rural towns, community banks drive economic growth. Whether a young couple wants to open a coffee shop in downtown Little Rock, a local manufacturer is looking to expand in Jacksonville, or a farmer in White County needs a loan for a new combine, it's our local banks that step up.

“Yet for decades, Washington has forced these local banks to operate under rules written for the nation's largest institutions, stifling local lending, accelerating industry consolidation, and making big banks even bigger. This bill fixes that. It right-sizes regulations for our community banks, freeing them up to lend so entrepreneurs can invest, businesses can grow, and families can build wealth. It will spur new bank formation, increase competition, remove barriers to lending, and benefit communities from coast to coast."

Watch Chairman Hill's floor remarks here.

Click here for bill text.
Click here for a section-by-section.
Click here for a one-pager.

Further Background:

On March 5, 2026, the Committee advanced the Main Street Capital Access Act by a vote of 26-16.
On January 8, 2026, the Committee hosted a fireside chat for the introduction of the Main Street Capital Access Act.
On January 7, 2026, Chairman Hill and Subcommittee Chairman Barr unveiled the Main Street Capital Access Act with every Committee Republican as an original co-sponsor. The Committee also hosted a press conference on the bill.
The Committee held several hearings to develop the Main Street Capital Access Act:
- On December 11, 2025, the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions held a hearing entitled “Right-Sizing the U.S. Bank Capital Framework: A Return to Tailoring, Economic Growth, and Competitiveness.”
- On September 5, 2025, the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions held a hearing entitled “Promoting the Health of the Banking Sector: Reforming Resolution and Broadening Funding Access for Long-Term Resilience.”
- On July 15, 2025, the Full Committee held a hearing entitled “Dodd-Frank Turns 15: Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead.”
- On May 14, 2025, the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions held a hearing entitled “Enhancing Competition: Shaping the Future of Bank Mergers and De Novo Formation.”
- On April 29, 2025, the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions held a hearing entitled “Regulatory Overreach: The Price Tag on American Prosperity.”
- On February 5, 2025, the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions held a hearing entitled “Make Community Banking Great Again.”
During the 118th Congress, on November 14, 2024, Chairman Hill released a set of principles which outlined his vision for invigorating community banking in America.

RELEASE: HILL VOTES TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA'S MILITARY READINESS

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) voted for H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027, which passed the House by a vote of 216-212. The bipartisan bill supports our military personnel and families, strengthens our national defense, modernizes our military capabilities, and includes four amendments introduced by or cosponsored by Rep. Hill, three of which will directly benefit the Arkansas National Guard.

Rep. Hill said, “It is critical that Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran have no doubt about the lethality of the United States military or our ability to project power anywhere in the world. This NDAA advances peace through strength by restocking critical munitions, strengthening defense supply chains, and accelerating weapons production. It also raises pay for the men and women who wear the uniform and invests in the technologies that will define tomorrow's battlefield. It redirects billions from lower-priority spending to our warfighting mission and eliminates distractions that have nothing to do with winning wars. This bill ensures our military has what it needs to deter our adversaries and defend American interests around the globe.

“I am also proud that several of my priorities were included in this year’s NDAA to support our Guardsmen in central Arkansas.”

Background:

H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, authorizes $1.15 trillion in national defense discretionary spending. The bill revitalizes the defense industrial base, revives the organic industrial base, provides the certainty industry needs to expand capacity, and grows and develops the defense industrial workforce. It advances small business participation in the defense industrial base, secures our supply chains, furthers acquisition reform, and improves collaboration on data rights. The legislation also raises pay for all servicemembers by 5 to 7 percent and improves housing, education, and childcare access for military families.

Rep. Hill’s Amendments and Priorities:

Sharing of Cyber Intelligence: This amendment directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a review of the health of the Department of Defense’s cyber intelligence sharing with state, local, Tribal, territorial, and private-sector partners. This amendment was developed with the Arkansas National Guard to ensure we analyze cyber information sharing to learn how to stop and mitigate cyber threats for homeland defense.
Camp Pike Conveyance: Codifies a no-cost land exchange between the Arkansas National Guard and the United States Army Reserve. The land exchange will include a two-star division headquarters at Camp Pike, currently occupied by a drilling unit with minimal full-time staff, a unit whose needs would be far better served by an armory. The second is the Chappell Armory in Arkansas, which was built for traditional drilling units but currently operates as a full-time headquarters. This would result in a mutually beneficial outcome and ensure better stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
F-35 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation: This amendment seeks to maximize taxpayer value by directing the Department of Defense to conduct and publish a cost comparison study for future F-35 basing locations for aircraft receiving first delivery between Fiscal Year 2030 and Fiscal Year 2035. The Arkansas National Guard believes that this study is critical to ensuring a complete understanding of the current mission and personnel before future F-35 basing decisions are made.

RELEASE: HILL VOTES TO STRENGTHEN AMERICAN DIPLOMACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ABROAD

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) voted for H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, which passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 217-209. The bill strengthens American diplomacy and national security abroad, cuts foreign aid and counters our adversaries while supporting key allies, and supports education programs abroad like the Fulbright Exchange Program.

Rep. Hill said, “House Republicans are bringing sanity back to foreign spending and making sure every dollar we send abroad serves America's national security. Arkansans never asked for their hard-earned tax dollars to be spent pushing 'woke' fads like DEI programs and gender ideology experiments on our strategic partners and allies. I voted for this bill to fund the things that actually advance our best interests, our diplomatic and intelligence operations, security assistance for real allies, and programs that reflect American values like religious freedom, the fight against human trafficking, and the Fulbright Exchange program. We're also cutting off the regimes that work against America and demanding more accountability from those receiving our money. This bill respects taxpayers, advances our actual interests, and delivers the foreign policy Americans have been asking for.”

Background:

H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, provides a total discretionary allocation of $47.32 billion, which is $2.69 billion, or 6 percent, below the FY26 enacted level. The bill champions a foreign policy agenda that supports our allies, counters our adversaries, and eliminates contributions to organizations that are wasteful and contradictory to American values. It codifies President Trump's executive orders to completely defund DEI programs, climate change mandates, and radical gender ideology programs, and maintains all long-standing pro-life provisions. It also counters the malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party by fully funding the Countering PRC Influence Fund at $400 million, denying the CCP access to U.S.-backed resources, and prohibiting countries from using U.S. aid to repay debts owed to Communist China.

Rep. Hill’s Priorities

Support an interagency strategy to disrupt and dismantle narcotics production and trafficking and affiliated networks in the Middle East.
Hold the Egyptian Government accountable for its poor treatment of Christian communities in Egypt.
Funding for the Fulbright Exchange Program and other international exchange programs.
Ensuring continued delivery of humanitarian aid into and within Syria.
Require the Secretary of State to examine the severe restrictions on religious freedom in countries the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended for the Special Watch List.
Funding for programs to combat trafficking in persons (TIP), including for the Child Protection Compacts and the Program to End Modern Slavery.
Funding for the National Security Investment Programs to help support conflict observatory documentation from entities with experience, especially for documentation of war crimes that occurred under the Assad Regime in Syria and those that are suspected to be occurring in Ukraine under the invasion by Russia.
Funding for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Division.

RELEASE: REP. HILL’S LANDMARK HOUSING BILL BECOMES LAW

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, held a press conference to celebrate his bill, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, becoming law. The bipartisan, bicameral bill is the first major housing legislation in decades. It cuts red tape, increases housing supply, and makes homeownership more attainable for families across Arkansas and the nation. The bill passed the Senate 85-14 and the House 358-32.

Rep Hill said, "When I first ran for Congress, I set out to author and pass legislation that improves the lives of central Arkansans and prove that Washington could still work for the American people. Having this historic housing bill become law today is the realization of those goals, that by working together, debating in good faith, and putting the interests of Americans ahead of politics, good policy can become law.

"This legislation strengthens community banks, modernizes building codes, and cuts red tape. More houses will be built, more families will enter the market, and homes across the country will be more affordable. The bill also delivers on one of the President’s goals by restricting institutional investors from outcompeting American families for homes. After years of work and months of negotiations with the Senate, this bicameral, bipartisan bill is a win for families from Arkansas to every corner of this country, and I am pleased to have successfully collaborated on this priority with the Financial Services Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA)."

Working in partnership with Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes more than 45 provisions to reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers to new home construction and modernize HUD programs, nine community banking bills to expand local lending for housing construction and mortgages, and measures to prevent large institutional investors from unfairly competing with individual homebuyers for homes.

Community banks are the backbone of Arkansas's economy, and the bill provides targeted relief to strengthen their ability to lend in local housing markets. The legislation also modernizes building codes, makes local zoning rules more competitive, and increases congressional oversight of HUD. This gives Arkansas communities greater flexibility to address their own housing needs.

Click here to watch the press conference.
Click here for the text of the bill.
Click here for a one-pager.
Click here for a section-by-section.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: REP. HILL TO HOST UNVEILING OF A BUST HONORING AN ARKANSAS HERO AT THE ARKANSAS STATE CAPITOL

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, AR – On Tuesday at 10:00 AM CT at the Arkansas State Capitol, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) will host the unveiling of the bust of former Lt. Governor and World War II hero Maurice “Footsie” Britt.

Maurice “Footsie” Britt of Carlisle, Arkansas, was the first American soldier in World War II to receive all of the Army's top decorations for valor in a single war, earning the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and four Purple Hearts while fighting across North Africa, Sicily, and Italy with the 3rd Infantry Division. He later served two terms as Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas alongside Governor Winthrop Rockefeller.

WHO: Rep. French Hill, Arkansas State Representative Joey Carr, Deputy Secretary Dr. Paul Lawrence (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), Dr. Charles Robinson (Chancellor, University of Arkansas), members of the Britt family, the U.S. Air Force, Arkansas National Guard, 106th Army Band, and the bust's artist, Kevin Kresse, who also created the statue of Arkansas icon Johnny Cash that resides in the U.S. Capitol.

WHAT: Maurice “Footsie” Britt Bust Unveiling

WHEN: 10:00 AM CT, Tuesday, July 7, 2026

WHERE:

Arkansas State Capitol Rotunda, Second Floor
500 Woodlane StLittle Rock, AR 72201

Press:

Further inquiries can be directed to Rep. Hill’s Communications Director, Travis Evans.

RELEASE: HILL AWARDS LATEST GOLDEN FLEECE TO USDA

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as the latest recipient of his Golden Fleece Award for failing to stop the rampant theft of SNAP benefits from vulnerable families.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that states replaced more than $320 million in stolen SNAP benefits between October 2022 and December 2024. Criminals used scams like card skimming, card cloning, and phishing to steal SNAP EBT card information and drain SNAP benefits before families could use them to buy groceries. In Arkansas, more than 1,100 families had their SNAP benefits stolen using card skimmers in 2024, totaling more than $550,000. USDA should stop this fraud before criminals can drain benefits from vulnerable Americans.

Rep. Hill said, "SNAP dollars should go to hungry families, not fraudsters. Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from someone who needs help buying groceries. I appreciate the Trump Administration's work to go after criminals stealing SNAP benefits, and I urge the USDA to bring that same urgency to stopping electronic theft before it happens, not just chasing it after the fact. Families who rely on SNAP need to know the money will be there, and taxpayers in Arkansas and across America deserve to know their hard-earned tax dollars are being protected."

In his letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Rep. Hill writes:

Dear Secretary Rollins,

I write today to inform you that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Administration is this month’s recipient of my Golden Fleece Award. I am awarding this to USDA because of its failure to properly protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from electronic theft and fraud.

SNAP is intended to help low-income families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and children put food on the table. That mission matters. In Fiscal Year 2025, SNAP was expected to provide approximately $96 billion in benefits to about 43 million people nationwide. In Arkansas alone, about 240,400 people received SNAP benefits each month in Fiscal Year 2025, representing 7.7 percent of the state’s population.

This is how serious the problem is: the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that states replaced more than $320 million in stolen SNAP benefits between October 2022 and December 2024. Criminals used scams like card skimming, card cloning, and phishing to steal SNAP EBT card information and drain SNAP benefits before families could use them to buy groceries.

Arkansas families have been hit by SNAP fraud. According to the Arkansas Department of Human Services, more than 1,100 Arkansas families had their SNAP benefits stolen using card skimmers in 2024, totaling more than $550,000. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has warned that scammers are accessing EBT card funds without the recipient’s knowledge and then immediately spending that money outside Arkansas, leaving vulnerable Arkansans without the funds they need to purchase groceries. In addition, USDA has acknowledged that criminals are using electronic schemes such as skimming, cloning, phishing, and other methods to steal SNAP benefits before recipients can use them. This is especially concerning because these stolen benefits are intended for low-income families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and children, not criminals exploiting weaknesses in outdated EBT security systems.

Every dollar stolen from SNAP is a dollar taken from a person who needs help buying groceries. It is also a dollar taken from taxpayers who expect the SNAP program to serve the vulnerable. Protecting SNAP from fraud is how we preserve SNAP for Americans who truly need it. That is exactly why fraud in this program is so unacceptable.

I appreciate that the Trump Administration has made SNAP program integrity a priority and that USDA has already taken steps to target criminals stealing SNAP benefits. USDA has stated that fraud will not be tolerated by the Trump Administration, and USDA’s Special Investigations Unit has worked with federal law enforcement partners to target criminals engaged in stealing SNAP benefits. USDA has also stated that the SNAP Fraud Framework supports state efforts to improve and expand fraud prevention, detection, and investigation. That work is welcome. Now USDA should bring that same urgency to stopping electronic SNAP theft before criminals can drain benefits from vulnerable Americans.

Taxpayers deserve to know that USDA is safeguarding their dollars. Families who depend on SNAP deserve to know their benefits will not be stolen before they can buy groceries. I urge USDA to provide Congress with clear, state-by-state data on SNAP theft, including the number of households affected, the dollar amount stolen, and the steps being taken to protect recipients going forward. Should you require additional authority from Congress to accomplish this task and protect SNAP beneficiaries from electronic theft, I ask that you notify me. I look forward to working with you on this important matter.

Sincerely,

French Hill
Member of Congress

CC: Acting Administrator of the USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, Shiela Corley

RELEASE: HILL, VEASEY, WILLIAMS, DELBENE, SCHWEIKERT, AND BEYER RELAUNCH BIPARTISAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAUCUS

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02) this week relaunched the bipartisan House Entrepreneurship Caucus alongside Co-Chairs Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX-25), Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ-01), and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA-08).

First established in 2019, the House Entrepreneurship Caucus brings Republicans and Democrats together to address the steady, decades-long decline in new business formation. Too many would-be entrepreneurs never get off the ground, often held back by limited access to capital, regulatory complexity, and a startup environment that has grown increasingly difficult to enter, particularly in communities that have never fully shared in the innovation economy.

The relaunch of the House Entrepreneurship Caucus marks a renewed commitment to change that. Through policy discussions, stakeholder engagement, and targeted legislation, the caucus will work to build an environment where American entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owners can thrive.

Rep. Hill said, “The 'startup slump' is a real concern and something I have been working to tackle throughout my time in Congress. Entrepreneurship is the engine that drives our economy forward, and as an entrepreneur myself, I know how difficult it can be to get a business off the ground. It's critical that the policies coming out of Washington encourage innovation and risk-taking. Supporting startups and small business owners is not a partisan issue, and I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as Co-Chair, all of whom have either started or ran a business, to promote strategies and policies that create an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive.”

Rep. Veasey said, “I am proud to join the Congressional Entrepreneurship Caucus and support efforts to strengthen innovation, support small businesses, and empower entrepreneurs who drive economic growth and opportunity across the nation. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance initiatives that help current and future entrepreneurs succeed.”

“As a second-generation small business owner, I know firsthand that every successful business starts with someone willing to take a risk,” said Rep. Williams. “As Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, I have spoken with entrepreneurs across the country and seen both the opportunities they create and the challenges they face. Today, I am proud to rejoin the Entrepreneurship Caucus and work alongside my colleagues to support the next generation of innovators. Together, we can ensure the next generation of entrepreneurs has every opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”

Rep. DelBene said, “As a former entrepreneur, I know firsthand the challenges of starting and growing a new business. This bipartisan caucus will help Congress better understand the needs of entrepreneurs and ensure we craft smart, effective policies informed by small business and startup leaders. When innovators bring new ideas, products, and services to our communities, they strengthen our economy. I look forward to leading this bipartisan group and advocating for the entrepreneurs driving growth and innovation across the country.”

“Entrepreneurs in Arizona are critical job creators who help build economic growth,” said Rep. Schweikert. “I am pleased to Co-Chair the Entrepreneurship Caucus again this Congress to work with my colleagues on bipartisan policies that support innovators across the nation. No startup should face impossible barriers while working to improve our communities and drive the local economy. Through this caucus, we will keep pushing for a more competitive tax and regulatory environment that allows entrepreneurs to take risks, create jobs, and build the next generation of American businesses.”

“It is all too easy for policymakers to excessively focus on the concerns of large, established firms and ignore the needs of the small businesses and startups who drive so much of our economic activity and innovation,” said Rep. Beyer. “This caucus will be an important forum for legislators to learn about the unique challenges faced by smaller companies and build support for commonsense, bipartisan solutions.”

RELEASE: HILL AND JACKSON RELAUNCH BIPARTISAN CAUCUS TO CHAMPION CAREER TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman French Hill (R-AR-02) and Congressman Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) announce the relaunch of the bipartisan Congressional Skilled Workforce Caucus to champion skilled workforce development and inform Members of Congress on issues facing American workers and employers who depend on a trained, capable workforce. Hill and Jackson will serve as Co-Chairs of the caucus for the 119th Congress.The Skilled Workforce Caucus will serve as a forum for Members to coordinate on federal policy priorities related to skilled workforce training, career and technical education, apprenticeships, and the pipeline of workers needed across healthcare, aviation, technology, and the sectors that build and power our nation.

The need is urgent. The construction industry alone is projected to need 349,000 additional workers in 2026, with roughly 41% of the current construction workforce expected to retire by 2031. The healthcare sector faces a parallel crisis, with more than 189,100 registered nurse job openings projected annually through 2034. Across aviation, technology, and energy, the story is the same as demand continues to outpace the pipeline. If left unaddressed, the skilled labor shortage could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars in lost economic output.

Rep. French Hill said, “For decades, we pushed young people toward four-year degrees, which had the unintended consequence of making trade schools and skilled labor look like a second-rate career path. The fact is, our skilled workers are the backbone of our economy, integral to everything that makes this nation great, from our healthcare and technology industries to the workers who build our homes and maintain our infrastructure. While we continue to applaud those who attend our great colleges and universities, this caucus will make sure Congress pays equal attention to the skilled workers who make modern American life possible. I am proud to work with Congressman Jonathan Jackson to ensure their voices are heard in Washington.”

“Our nation needs a skilled workforce prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century economy,” said Rep. Jonathan Jackson. “I am honored to join Rep. Hill in relaunching the Skilled Workforce Caucus to bring Members of Congress together around a shared commitment to strengthening workforce development and expanding opportunity for working families. By investing in career and technical education, apprenticeships, and workforce training, we can create more pathways to family-sustaining careers, close skills gaps across critical industries, and build an economy where prosperity reaches every community.”

Additional caucus members will be announced in the coming weeks.

RELEASE: HILL AWARDS LATEST GOLDEN FLEECE TO CMS

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

HHS Inspector General reports show MA plans are misusing prior authorization, a practice used to pre-approve expensive care before it is provided, at the expense of seniors. In one study, 18% of denied claims were for services that already met coverage rules or had been previously approved. The yearly cost of insurance paperwork to the U.S. economy totals $31 billion, a portion of which comes from prior authorization filings and appeals for improper denials. CMS could reduce that amount and save taxpayers' money by fixing its prior authorization oversight.

Rep. Hill said, "CMS failing to efficiently or appropriately use prior authorization is unacceptable. Medicare is one of our largest federal health care expenditures and increasingly strains our already difficult fiscal situation. Every dollar matters. So when the HHS IG finds that 18% of denied claims were improper, CMS deserves to be called out. Medicare exists to protect our seniors, and they are the ones who suffer most when the system fails. CMS needs to fix this now. Our seniors are counting on it."

In his letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Rep. Hill writes:

Dear Administrator Oz,

I write today to inform you that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is this month’s recipient of my Golden Fleece Award. I am awarding this to CMS because of its failure to properly oversee Medicare Advantage (MA) plans prior authorization practices.

CMS is responsible for ensuring federal health care programs, including Medicare, operate smoothly. This duty is made even more important as seniors are increasingly choosing to enroll in privately managed MA plans. These plans can improve care coordination, reduce costs, and maintain or improve care.

MA plans often use prior authorization, the practice of pre-approving certain complicated or expensive care before services are provided, to contain costs and cut down on fraud and abuse. However, I am concerned that some MA plans are misusing prior authorization in a way that harms Medicare and our seniors.

Specifically, I am concerned about reports from the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General (HHS OIG) showing that MA plans are failing to efficiently or appropriately use prior authorization. In one study, the HHS OIG found that 18% of denied claims were for services that met MA plan coverage rules or had already been approved through prior authorization. The report also identified multiple instances where MA plans claimed that records were lost, not properly linked, or software failed. I hope you agree with me that basic record-keeping failures should not be common, and that CMS has a duty to ensure plans prevent these kinds of issues.

Prior authorization failures can delay care for seniors and create unnecessary burdens for health care providers. This should not be tolerated when taxpayer dollars are funding the MA plans responsible. Estimates suggest that prior authorization abuse or errors consume physician time, lead to adverse outcomes, and can even reduce productivity due to missed work.

More importantly, the impact on patients is severe. According to studies, prior authorization can lead to worse health outcomes for children and adults, including for behavioral care like opioid use disorder and even cancer treatments. In addition, delays, including time spent appealing denials, lead to worse health outcomes now and more expensive care later.

The economic cost of prior authorization is also striking. Research suggests that the yearly cost of insurance paperwork to physicians is $68,274, with a total cost to the U.S. economy of $31 billion. It is important to note that most of those costs fall on small, independent practices. Further, some portion of that $31 billion is spent on filing prior authorizations and appeals for improper denials. That money could be spent on better, or more care, but instead is essentially wasted. This kind of failure, which demonstrably harms patients Medicare is designed to protect, can be avoided.

CMS must address the problem of inefficient or harmful prior authorization practices in Medicare. Should you require additional authority from Congress to conduct oversight of MA plans, I ask that you notify me. I look forward to working with you in the near future.

Sincerely,

French Hill
Member of Congress

CC: Inspector General March Bell, Department of Health and Human Services.

RELEASE: HILL PUSHES TO PRESERVE LITTLE ROCK LANDMARK

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. French Hill (AR-02) yesterday introduced H.R. 9148, the Scipio Jones House Assessment Act. If passed, this bill would require the Department of the Interior (DOI) to do a special resource study of the Scipio Jones House with a report to Congress three years after enactment. The study would lay the groundwork for preserving the house and potentially bringing it into the National Park System.

Rep. Hill said, “Scipio Jones is one of the most important figures in American civil rights history, and a proud Arkansas native. He saved 12 men from death row, took their case all the way to the Supreme Court, won, and changed constitutional law for every American who has ever stood accused. While I’m grateful to the City of Little Rock for helping to save this landmark, I’m concerned that the Scipio Jones property continues to be vacant and to deteriorate, and I’m proud to lead the effort to restore it in a way that honors this great Arkansan's legacy.”

Background

Specifically, this bill would evaluate:

The national significance of the study area,
The suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a unit of the National Historic Landmark and affiliated area of the National Park System.
The feasibility of making the home an extension of the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.
Alternatives for preservation and protection of the study area
Cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives.

In 2020, Rep. Hill's bill to permit a portrait of Scipio Jones to be displayed at the Little Rock post office that bears his name was signed into law. The portrait, painted by Arkansas artist Wade Hampton, was unveiled at the post office in February 2022.

About Scipio Jones:

Scipio Africanus Jones, who was born to an enslaved person in 1863, attended Walden Seminary (now Philander Smith University) and then attended Bethel Institute (now Shorter College), earning his bachelor’s degree in 1885. In 1889, Jones passed the bar and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Arkansas in 1900 and by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1905.

After the horrific massacre of Black Americans in Elaine, Arkansas, in 1919, Scipio Jones defended 12 wrongly accused Black men who had been charged with murder and condemned by all-white juries.

Despite the Elaine Massacre being described as a "race riot," most of the victims were Black and most of the aggressors were white. With his clients already facing execution, Jones fought their convictions in both state and federal courts. An appeal was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that the accused had been denied due process of law. After reviewing the case, the Supreme Court agreed and overturned the convictions. Moore v. Dempsey changed the nature of the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause. The landmark ruling allows federal courts to hear and examine evidence in state criminal cases to ensure that the defendants’ constitutional due process rights are protected.