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RELEASE: HILL, BERA, VAN DREW, SHERMAN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF FULBRIGHT PROGRAM

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02), Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02), and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA-32) yesterday introduced H. Res. 1501, a bipartisan House companion to S. Res. 830, Recognizing the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright Program, introduced by Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).

Rep. French Hill said, “The Fulbright Program is one of Arkansas’s great contributions to the world. For 80 years, Senator J. William Fulbright’s vision has brought students, scholars, and professionals from around the globe together to learn from one another, strengthen international partnerships, and build greater understanding between nations. I'm proud to recognize this important milestone, celebrate the program’s enduring contribution to American leadership around the world, and reaffirm Congress’s support for its important work.”

Rep. Ami Bera said, “The Fulbright Program represents the very best of American leadership by giving our nation’s best and brightest the opportunity to experience other cultures, pursue world-class academic opportunities, and build lasting relationships abroad. I’m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing this historic anniversary and reaffirming bipartisan support for the Fulbright Program and other educational and cultural exchanges that advance American interests abroad.”

Rep. Jeff Van Drew said, “South Jersey is home to incredible students and educators who understand that some of the best learning happens when you get outside of your comfort zone and experience the world firsthand. For 80 years, the Fulbright Program has given Americans that opportunity while allowing us to share our values with people around the world. I am proud to recognize this milestone and the generations of Americans who have represented our country through this program.”

Rep. Brad Sherman said, “If Senator J. William Fulbright were with us today, he would be proud of the international scholarship and friendships that the Fulbright Program has made possible since he established it in 1946. Today, the Fulbright Program’s modest investments in educational exchanges continue to yield incalculable goodwill towards the United States around the world. I am proud to help recognize 80 years of this important program.”

Resolution overview:

Recognizes the 80^th anniversary of the Fulbright Program.
Encourages Congress to support the work of the Fulbright Program and other educational and cultural affairs programs.
Congratulates current and previous Fulbright award recipients.
Encourages students, scholars, and professionals globally to engage and promote international understanding and partnership.

Background on Fulbright Program:

On Aug. 1, 1946, President Harry Truman signed former Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright’s legislation into law. That legislation created the Fulbright Program, which is an international exchange program designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries. The Fulbright Program has educated more than 370,000 students from 165 countries, including 54 Nobel Laureates and 33 heads of state.

In 2016, Rep. French Hill led the House effort to recognize the 70th anniversary of the Fulbright Program, introducing a resolution commemorating the milestone and encouraging continued support for the program. Hill also sponsored the planting of an American elm on the U.S. Capitol Grounds in honor of the anniversary, joining members of the Arkansas congressional delegation, Fulbright scholars, and Harriet Fulbright for the dedication ceremony. The tree was planted in view of Senator Fulbright’s former office in the Russell Senate Office Building.

Hill’s resolution complemented a Senate effort led by fellow Arkansan Sen. John Boozman, whose resolution passed the Senate in July 2016.

RELEASE: REP. HILL AWARDS USPS HIS GOLDEN FLEECE AWARD FOR FAILING TO STOP FRAUDULENT POSTAGE

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) announced the United States Postal Service (USPS) is the latest recipient of his Golden Fleece Award for failing to properly identify and stop fraudulent postage.

The United States Postal Service Inspector General found that the USPS struggled to intercept packages and letters going through its sorting and shipping process that had invalid or fraudulent postage. This puts the USPS and the services it provides at risk as over $1.7 billion is estimated to be lost yearly to fraudulent stamps or postage. This is revenue that the USPS could be using to reduce its $9 billion loss posted in 2025.

Rep. Hill said, “The USPS no doubt provides important services, especially for rural central Arkansans who rely on it to deliver everything from letters to medicine. But at a time when the USPS is posting yearly losses and the package transportation industry is becoming more dynamic, the USPS must adapt. Commonsense steps can be taken to stop the bleeding, and USPS already has statutory authorities to do so. While I am encouraged to see USPS agree with the recommendations the Inspector General has made, they must go further and rigorously follow through.”

In his letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, Rep. Hill writes:

Dear Postmaster General Steiner

I am writing today to inform you that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is this month’s recipient of my Golden Fleece Award. I am awarding this to USPS because of its inability to detect and properly stop counterfeit postage.

USPS is an important facilitator of connection and commerce for the United States. A secure and effective USPS benefits all Americans. That is why I am troubled by reports that the USPS has insufficient controls in place to detect and stop counterfeit postage from being used. This includes postage for small envelopes and larger packages.

Reports from the Inspector General of the USPS estimate that $1.7 billion could be lost due to counterfeit stamps. It may be that the USPS Advanced Facer Canceller Systems (AFCS), which is used to read stamps and labels, is not adequate by itself to detect and intercept fraudulent postage. In fact, during an audit conducted by the Inspector General of the USPS, the AFCS did not catch a single piece of fraudulent postage when running in its low-revenue protection mode. This mode improves mail processing speed, but it checks only one of two possible tests and is clearly not effective.

Other alerts by the Inspector General of the USPS have indicated that the USPS also struggles to detect counterfeit labels and postage for larger packages. These findings are especially troubling since criminals could exploit this loophole to ship illegal or illicit materials at no cost and courtesy of the USPS. From 2024 to 2025, package and shipping revenue made up roughly $9 billion of the $22 billion USPS generated in revenue, the largest single line of service by revenue. If the USPS cannot adequately capture revenue from this service, it will be increasingly difficult to maintain its viability, and commerce will suffer as a result.

Despite technical limitations like the AFCS, the USPS also appears to struggle with prosecuting the creators of fraudulent postage. I am pleased that USPS will be improving its fraudulent postage enforcement activities under existing legal authorities like the Lanham Act. Under this authority, the USPS has prosecuted individuals who used USPS logos without authorization. To tackle this challenge, the USPS will need to use all of its statutory authorities.

The challenges faced by the USPS are existential. In 2025, the USPS reported a $9 billion net loss and a $2.7 billion controllable net loss. While this is an improvement over 2024 financial results, this is not sustainable, and the USPS must do everything it can to ensure its long-term viability.

While I recognize some of the Inspector General of the USPS’ recommendations to tackle fraudulent postage will cost money, implementing them would improve the USPS’ ability to capture revenue and offset some of this loss. That said, I urge the USPS to seriously heed the Inspector General's concerns and implement their recommendations immediately.

While the USPS is funded by its sales and operations, it should be a better steward of its resources to ensure those funds are not wasted. Should you require additional authority from Congress, I ask that you notify me. I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

French Hill
Member of Congress

CC: Inspector Gary Barksdale, Chief Postal Inspector; Inspector General Tammy Hull, Inspector General of the United States Postal Service

RELEASE: REP. HILL AWARDS GOLDEN FLEECE TO FAA AND TSA FOR GAPS IN CYBERSECURITY

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are the latest recipients of his Golden Fleece Award for recently identified shortcomings in their oversight of aviation cybersecurity risks.According to GAO, nearly 44,000 flights carrying 3 million passengers fly the skies of the United States every day. As aviation systems become increasingly connected, protecting avionics and ground systems from cyber threats is essential to maintaining the safety and reliability of America’s aerospace.

Rep. Hill said, "Air travel is an essential part of American life and critical to the economic health of our nation. It's imperative that passengers, as well as pilots and flight attendants, have confidence that we’re doing everything in our power to make sure they take off and land safely. Guarding the cyber systems that keep our nation's aviation infrastructure protected is a major part of that effort. While the FAA and TSA have taken steps to address cybersecurity challenges, gaps remain that require continued attention. Federal agencies responsible for keeping our planes flying must ensure they have defined responsibilities and effective risk management practices in place."

In his letter to Federal Aviation Administration Chief Information Security Officer Gina Fisk, Rep. Hill writes:

Dear Director Fisk,

I write to inform you that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are the latest recipients of my Golden Fleece Award for shortcomings in their cybersecurity strategies. Nearly 44,000 flights and 3 million passengers travel through the National Airspace System (NAS) each day, underscoring the need for robust cybersecurity as avionics and ground systems become increasingly interconnected.

Between 2020 and 2025, the aerospace sector reported nearly 2,000 cybersecurity incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). These incidents highlighted vulnerabilities such as inadequate software patching, internet-accessible operational technology, outdated software, vulnerable remote services that could enable unauthorized access to avionics, and ground systems or manipulation of critical information.

The Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Homeland Security (DHS) share responsibility for overseeing cybersecurity risk across America's transportation sector. Their authorities are established through federal statutes, including Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016, and the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 further provides guidance for managing cybersecurity risk and transitioning to a Zero Trust architecture.

While the FAA's cybersecurity strategy clearly defines agency roles and responsibilities, comparable TSA planning documents do not. For example, the TSA Strategy for 2018–2026 does not explicitly establish cybersecurity-specific goals or objectives to support aviation security. Moreover, it is no longer fully aligned with DHS's broader cybersecurity strategy. Other planning documents, including Administrator's Intent 3.0 and the 2018 TSA Cybersecurity Roadmap, similarly lack clear objectives and fail to define TSA's roles and responsibilities for overseeing airport and aircraft cybersecurity programs.

These documents also do not clearly identify the offices responsible for implementing their stated goals and objectives. Although Administrator's Intent 3.0 directed TSA to update its cybersecurity roadmap between 2018 and 2026, the agency has yet to do so.

The absence of clearly defined cybersecurity roles has contributed to confusion among manufacturers, airlines, and other aviation stakeholders regarding TSA's cybersecurity responsibilities. Although FAA has defined its role, greater interagency clarity would strengthen coordination across the aviation sector.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requires agencies to report cybersecurity expenditures through the Cyber Budget Data Request process to inform the President's budget. However, FAA did not report complete information on its Information Security/Cybersecurity Program because it was not required to report all cybersecurity spending. Consequently, the Administration and Congress could lack a complete understanding of the agency's cybersecurity investments, including research and development activities.

While the FAA's Cybersecurity Strategy aligns with several federal Zero Trust practices, it does not fully align with NIST's Zero Trust Architecture guidance. The strategy fully aligns with only three of seven identified practices, and partially addresses the remaining four. Full implementation is necessary to effectively manage cybersecurity risks.

I appreciate the FAA's efforts to implement federal and industry best practices to mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting avionics and ground systems. The FAA must continue implementing its cybersecurity posture to ensure the safety, security, and resilience of the National Airspace System.

If additional statutory authority is necessary to address these concerns, I encourage you to notify me promptly. I also welcome any technical assistance the FAA can provide to assist Congress in addressing these issues. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

French Hill
Member of Congress

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.”