District Update |October 29, 2016
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U.S. Congressman French Hill
Dear Friends,

Just before the Affordable Care Act, more commonly referred to as Obamacare, became the law of the land, then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi infamously said: "We have to pass [obamacare] so that you can find out what is in it…." Republicans warned against the nightmare scenario that a federally mandated healthcare system would create, but still, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and President Obama pushed forward with their signature legislative "achievement." 

Since it took effect, Obamacare has been every bit the disaster Republicans predicted – and then some. Starting with the failure to develop a functioning website to enroll people through the exchanges to this week’s news that Obamacare premiums are set to rise twenty-five percent on average across the nation. The so-called Affordable Care Act is proving to be anything but affordable, yet Democrats in Washington are choosing to double down on this bad policy.

There is A Better Way to provide real and affordable healthcare to the American people. House Republicans have put forth a blueprint to create patient-centered healthcare that increases choice and lowers cost. 

My colleagues and I in the House have spent a large portion of the past four months highlighting the Better Way agenda, and with good reason because  we know the types of policies that need to be implemented to get America back on the right track. 

Regular readers of this weekly newsletter know that tax reform is also a major part of the Better Way agenda. This past week marked 30 years since President Reagan signed the  Tax Reform Act of 1986 –the last bit of major tax reform in our country – and we are overdue for significant updating and reform.  It is nearly impossible to find a major issue in Washington that has such universal appeal as tax reform. As a former businessman, a taxpayer, and now a Member of Congress, I understand your frustrations when it comes to paying taxes. The current tax code does not work for you. It’s complex and burdensome, and often makes little sense. 

Thirty years with no progress on any issue is troubling, especially on an issue that affects the lives of nearly every American. I will continue working toward solutions on the critical issues of affordable healthcare and a tax code that works for we, the people.

Sincerely,


Representative French Hill

News for the Week


Fish Farmers Expected to Lose Millions from Pesky Bird
KARK
10/24/2016

Hill's office to hold mobile office hours
Arkansas Online
10/23/2016

Photos for the Week


Rep. Hill visiting the North Little Rock Fire Department with local officials, including Mayor Joe Smith and Chief Jim Murphy.

Rep. Hill receiving the 2016 Arkansas Farm Bureau’s "Friend of Farm Bureau Award" from Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach.

Rep. Hill addressing Central Arkansas female leaders on health care issues at a meeting of the Little Rock Department Club.

Rep. Hill hosting Central Arkansas leaders in the non-profit community in the seventh roundtable as part of his Community Empowerment Initiative (CEI) round table series.

 


Addressing Poverty A Better Way

This week, Rep. Hill penned an op-ed in the Log Cabin Democrat about what the House is doing to address poverty in central Arkansas and across the entire country.You can read a portion of the op-ed below:
President Lyndon Johnson introduced the War on Poverty to the nation 52 years ago. Designed as a comprehensive social welfare initiative, the program initially included funding for food stamps, school districts, and Medicare and Medicaid. Although many of these programs have been useful, it would be hard to make a legitimate case that their efficiency matches the total investment by the taxpayers.

The Census Bureau estimates that the poverty rate has fallen from 19 percent in 1964 to 15 percent in 2014 — a tragic disappointment when you consider the estimated $22 trillion spent on these programs. When the data indicates little to no achievement, it’s time for us to move past antiquated ideas and begin implementing innovative and effective strategies to combat poverty in America.

Fortunately, this isn’t just a case of knowing what doesn’t work; we also know what does work. I’m pleased to join Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and our fellow Republicans in Congress in announcing a new strategy for addressing poverty as part of A Better Way, our comprehensive plan for creating an America that works better for its citizens.

The solutions we’re advocating for are tried and tested alternatives to the stale, one-size-fits-all federal programs taxpayers are forced to fund year after year. Some of these solutions are already underway in central Arkansas, serving thousands of individuals and families who need a helping hand. Initiatives like Our House, which provides housing and training to Central Arkansas families, and the OK Program, established by Donald Northcross in 1990 to mentor young African American men, exemplify the community-based solutions that have been demonstrated to break the cycle of poverty.

For example, each year, Our House provides housing and employment training for more than one thousand families, supplying them with the help and skills they need to succeed. Likewise, the mentors at the OK Program serve our low income and underserved communities by making a positive impact on the children they work with and increasing twofold the likelihood that they will one day be enrolled in college. As these programs demonstrate, the critical element in this fight isn’t interference from Washington, but strong, community-based efforts that provide education, promote employment and personal responsibility, and lend a helping hand when needed.

Last year, I began the Community Empowerment Initiative to study the programs in Central Arkansas that are succeeding in lifting people out of poverty. Non-profit organizations like Our House and the OK Program are essential to providing opportunities for our children and taking care of our neediest families.

There’s also an important role for active, engaged efforts from our local governments and public officials, like the Greenbrier Public Schools in Faulkner County. This publicly funded school system provides in-school training for skilled jobs and allows students at Greenbrier High School to earn up to two years of college credit through a partnership with UALR.

I’m committed not only to finding out what already works in the Second District, but also to bringing in the most innovative ideas from elsewhere. For example, Washington State sponsors a program by State Rep. Hans Zeiger that promotes partnerships between school districts and housing authorities to keep the most vulnerable students off the streets and in school.

Click here to read the rest.

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