District Update | August 17, 2016
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U.S. Congressman French Hill
Dear Friends,

One of the joys of American exceptionalism is being able to watch the Olympics every two years and see our gifted athletes dominate international competition. Our athletes remain a wonderful source of pride and inspiration for this Nation.

The majority of the headlines out of Rio have demonstrated the successes of our athletes, but we also have seen countless other news stories about how impoverished many of the people in the beautiful city of Rio are. In reading these stories, another aspect of America's greatness is revealed: our ability and desire to help those less fortunate exceeds that of any other nation on the face of the earth.

However, while our work to help the poor is truly exceptional, we are still faced with the reality that we have much work to do in our own communities and neighborhoods to reduce the number of Americans living in poverty.

Almost 47 million Americans live below the poverty line, and in our own state, a staggering 19 percent of our citizens remain poor. America has long maintained the reputation of being the "Land of Opportunity" but there is little doubt that we as a nation are failing some of our neighbors and communities despite a well-intended 50 year War on Poverty.

Extending opportunity to all is a major policy initiative of the Congress. This is why I started the Community Empowerment Initiative (CEI) last year. The CEI brings together local leaders who have successfully created programs that promote upward mobility to discuss the best ways to eliminate poverty in this central Arkansas.

When Speaker Paul Ryan announced The Better Way agenda, I was pleased that a major pillar of that platform would be a Congress-wide effort to reassess our federal poverty programs and make changes to them that will better assist less fortunate families.

On Monday, I held my sixth CEI roundtable discussion, and this one highlighted the need to improve educational resources; others have focused on early child nutrition and health, foster care, homelessness, and community development.

These Olympics are a reminder that people in every country across the globe want to emulate the accomplishments of Americans. Though the plight of the people of Rio is truly heartbreaking, maybe if they can see our eventual success in addressing poverty in our country, people across the globe --including Brazil--will be inspired to help their poorest citizens obtain the independence and opportunities we strive to provide ours.

Sincerely,


Representative French Hill

Photos for the Week


Rep. Hill helping to build a house with Habitat for Humanity for a deserving Little Rock family.

Rep. Hill visiting the Highway 25 extension site with Faulkner County Judge Jim Baker.

News for the Week

Hill Gives Defense Policy Speech to Military Officers of America
Arkansas Online
Last week, Hill gave a speech to the Military Officers Association of America in North Little Rock, outlining increases in defense spending and troop levels, higher pay for servicemen and funds for modernizing weaponry. He called for the Senate to pass House-approved legislation that he said would give the Veterans Affairs secretary "sweeping new authority to fire corrupt or incompetent employees ... and hold accountable those VA employees that are at fault for the recent scandals and data manipulation of our veterans' medical records," according to a copy of Hill's speech.

Read More

Judge Baker shows Rep. Hill county projects
Log Cabin Democrat
County Judge Jim Baker took Rep. French Hill and a Log Cabin Democrat reporter on a ride along Wednesday, looking at ongoing and upcoming Faulkner County road projects. Baker first brought Courts and Crime Reporter Marisa Hicks and Hill, along with two of Hill’s district representatives, to the Highway 25 project at the end of Friendship Road near Beaverfork Lake.
Read More
 


VA Reclaims Ignominious Title

Last week, the Michael Phelps of Golden Fleece Awards, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), reclaimed its gold medal status for its mishandling of the $8 million solar panel project at the Little Rock VA Medical Center.

After awarding VA the Golden Fleece Award for the month of August, Rep. Hill wrote to VA Secretary Bob McDonald stating:

In June 2015, I reestablished the Golden Fleece Award and awarded the inaugural Golden Fleece to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the mishandling of the $8 million solar panel project at the Little Rock Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). Now, more than one year later, the VA Office of Inspector General (VAOIG) has released a report highlighting the mismanagement of numerous solar projects at the VA, and once again the VA is the recipient of another Golden Fleece Award.  

According to the recent report the Little Rock VA medical facility solar project is not expected to be fully completed until January 2017, 4 years beyond its original completion date and $1.5 million over budget. Additionally, the VAOIG report found that planning errors, design changes, a lengthy interconnection process, and contractor delays led to deficiencies in other projects throughout the country resulting in additional costs and no increase in renewable energy for solar project in the planned time frame. It is also troubling that the VA has contested the VAOIG’s comments and recommendations, especially regarding the solar panel project in Little Rock, and that the director and chief engineer during the initiation of this project have since retired and were not available for questioning.

Click here to read the entire letter.
Big Grant for Little Rock Port Authority

This week, it was announced that the Little Rock Port Authority would receive a $6 million grant for a new dock. At a press conference on Monday, Rep. Hill said of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant:

"They are so competitive, I can't tell you what a big compliment that is. We are doing something right in central Arkansas when it comes to economic development and economic growth."

Rep. Hill Joins Habitat for Humanity to Build Home for Little Rock Family

On Friday, Rep. Hill joined with representatives from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), Bank of the Ozarks, and Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas for a “wall-raising” event and check presentation.

Shalaniece Floyd, a 30-year-old single mother of two, will purchase the Habitat home with a zero percent interest loan when construction is complete. Working alongside donors and volunteers, Ms. Floyd will invest 300 sweat equity hours into her home.

Prior to the event, Rep. Hill stated:

“I’ve long been a supporter of Habitat for Humanity and all it does to promote affordable housing in Arkansas. It is an honor to participate in today’s wall-raising activity and to help build a home for a deserving Little Rock family.”


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