J. Hill

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule change. Rather than taking time to implement a bipartisan plan to safely open this House and our work on the Hill, as suggested by the Republican leader, the House majority is taking the lazy way out. The U.S. Constitution and 200 years of precedent require a physical presence to establish a quorum to protect all Members' rights and the rights of the Americans who vote for these Members. If we pass this rule change today and make attendance optional, we are taking away the fundamental nature of our government of elected Members of the House representing our citizens. Since the first Congress, through it all--bad roads, bad weather, invasion, and the burning of this very Capitol, Civil War, and depression--Members have assembled to do the people's business. Our Founders intended that legislating be hard but fair. Our Founders compelled the people's representatives to assemble, to collaborate, to find a way forward. This rule will only make it harder to find that consensus during these times. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to reject this unnecessary change to the House rules.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), my friend. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this legislation. Over the last 3 months, we have put together a series of bipartisan bills that are extraordinary, and they amount to $2.9 trillion in spending. While the amount $2.9 trillion is 60 percent of what the Federal Government spends in an entire year, nonetheless, this bipartisan effort was essential to beat the virus and get our economy back to full capacity. Mr. Speaker, today, we vote on another $3 trillion in spending when we haven't even gotten all of the first phase of money out to our schools, to our hospitals, to our cities, to our States. We have not completed getting the money out to restart our economy. Yet the House majority has blocked the House from working bipartisanly and has cooked up this 1800-page bill in the Speaker's hideaway. This proposal, much of which has nothing to do with the coronavirus, discourages work and delays our economic recovery. We need to assess our actions and bring bipartisan efforts to the floor to address the gaps.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of one of Arkansas's great veterans--SSG John W. Jones (Ret.). John was born in 1918 and began his career of service shortly after the start of World War II. Prior to being wounded in combat in 1945 he served in the Army, Company G, 184th infantry, and completed many campaigns including Aleutian Islands, Eastern Mandates, and the battle of Okinawa. John received numerous medals and awards for his service, including the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and a Purple Heart. After returning home he married and had four children. He learned the auto body trade and worked for Bale Chevrolet in Little Rock Arkansas for almost 30 years before retiring. John currently lives in Little Rock, Arkansas and is now a COVID-19 survivor. John is a true American patriot, one of which all Americans and Arkansans can admire.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, today I recognize Jo Ellis and her team at the nonprofit organization Make.Do., an organization that has been restoring hope through creativity, connection, and compassion in Searcy, Arkansas. The team at Make.Do. has shifted their focus during the current public health crisis due to COVID-19 and have dedicated their abilities to making masks for the community and healthcare workers, so far producing more than 780 masks. The team has also adapted their community outreach by starting the Quarantine Craft Camp. Here, they provide craft supplies to Searcy residents and encourage them to participate in the educational Facebook Live events that they host. This initiative has shined a light on how creativity encourages positive attitudes and can unite a community even amidst a public health crisis. I congratulate Jo Ellis and the team at Make.Do. for their creative way to bring the community of Searcy together.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michael and Tonya Sacomani and their kids for turning the difficulties of social distancing and confinement into a positive. The Sacomani's had to quickly adapt after their family trip, a cruise for the kids' spring break, was canceled due to COVID-19. During these long days of social distancing and isolation, the Sacomani's turned to a camping staycation in their own backyard, which backs up to the Saline River. The Sacomani's made it their family mission to clean up as much of the Saline River as they can during the quarantine. Their list of cleaned up trash is incredible, so far including refrigerators, stoves, ski boats lodged in trees, a hot tub lodged in a tree, and hundreds of tires. I would like to extend a hand of gratitude to the Sacomani's for their worthwhile commitment to hard work, our environment and natural resources.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, today, I recognize Mallory Preddy, an employee at the Boston Mountain Rural Health Center in Clinton, AR, for her extraordinary work during this public health crisis. Mallory usually serves as a dental hygienist at the clinic, but when the public health crisis began, she volunteered to learn how to screen patients at the front door of the clinic. She later began screening patients for possible need of COVID-19 testing and is now serving as a runner, transporting samples from the testing tent to the lab for packaging. Her supervisor wrote the following. ``[Mallory] has readily volunteered for anything that we needed her to do. Some people just stand out in times of crisis and Mallory has been one of those people.'' Mallory has stepped up to the plate for our nation during this time, taking on duties outside of her job description and putting herself in harm's way to help the people in her community. I thank Mallory for her dedication to protecting the health of Arkansans during this time. She, and Frontline workers like her, are vital to us overcoming COVID-19 as a nation.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication and partnership of Arkansas medical professionals and state agencies in their efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 and prepare to rebuild. Governor Asa Hutchinson recently announced the formation of the Governor's Medical Advisory Committee for Post-Peak COVID-19 Response. Focusing on public health strategy after Arkansas reaches the peak of its COVID-19 cases, this committee is tasked to examine testing capabilities and social distancing protocols and make necessary recommendations to avoid a resurgence of cases. This work is critical to ensuring the health and safety of all Arkansans while continuing to pave the way for the opening of our state. On behalf of all Arkansans, I thank Governor Hutchinson, the members serving on this important committee, and all of the medical professionals and health care workers on the frontlines battling COVID- 19.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (Central Arkansas VA) nurse Teresa West for recently being awarded the VA Secretary's Award for Excellence in Nursing. The VA Secretary's Award for Excellence in Nursing program was established in 1984 and is given only once to an individual. Teresa is the nurse manager for the VISN 16 Clinical Resource Hub, which combines in-person care and telehealth to support underserved medical facilities. Her work is crucial in allowing rural veterans to get the care they need, when they need it, regardless of location. Teresa's long list of accomplishments include implementing the Virtual Medical Room program at the Central Arkansas VA and training primary care teams at five other VA Healthcare Network facilities on telehealth. Teresa is a champion for the veterans community throughout Arkansas and the country, and I am proud to recognize her commitment to better serve our Nation's heroes.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, today, I recognize Christopher James, Ellie Roditis, and the University of Central Arkansas Exercise Science Program for their efforts in creating personal protective equipment for the healthcare workers of Arkansas. Arkansas Air Force Reservist and full-time student Christopher James alongside his classmates from UCA have constructed and donated 114 medical face masks to healthcare workers at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Christopher and his classmates are expected to complete at least 200 more masks which will be donated to patients and their families within the community. This initiative reflects the ongoing support for our healthcare workers, and the ability our community has to come together during these times of crisis. I congratulate Christopher James, Ellie Roditis, and the University of Central Arkansas Exercise Science Program for dedicating their time to ensuring our health care workers and the community are protected.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, today, I recognize the City of Benton, Arkansas, for the healing and hope promised as part of their Wall of Prayer in the city's downtown. Benton Mayor Tom Farmer has constructed a lattice wall for residents to share their prayer requests on while preparing for the National Day of Prayer, May 7. This initiative reflects that many of Benton's residents are looking for opportunities to maintain their sense of community during the current public health crisis due to COVID-19 while at the same time staying safe by following social distancing guidelines. Residents are encouraged to hang a prayer written on a piece of cloth on the wall, and each day at noon until May 7, faith leaders will pray over the wall uniting in the shared experience. While they are there, they can further show support for their community by taking a picture with the nearby ``I Love Benton'' sign. I congratulate Mayor Farmer and the City of Benton for this creative way to come together and pray for our community, and I look forward to joining in prayer for this strong community on May 7.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. I rise in support of the Paycheck Protection Program Increase Act. In Arkansas, there are more than 13,000 pending PPP loan applications, representing over $1.1 billion, Madam Speaker, of loans in limbo. Likewise, many await the SBA's disaster loan funding and wait for it now. The timing of this additional funding is critical, and yet, again, I regret the delay by many leaders on the other side playing politics one more time with the livelihoods of our constituents. After the passage of this important package, I am confident that our employers and our consumers will prudently be able to combine common sense and follow the CDC precautions and get back to work, back to seeing patients, back to the barbershop, back to their faith communities, and back to some semblance of normalcy. Americans always come together in times of crisis. We will defeat this foreign invader. We will get our economy back to full capacity.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Laura Monteverdi for her work to combat the opioid epidemic in Arkansas. Laura was recently awarded the National Newsmaker Award by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) for her outstanding focus on the opioid crisis in Arkansas. The National Newsmaker Award is given to a journalist in TV, print or radio, who uses their platform to inform the public on substance use and misuse. THV11, the CBS affiliate in Little Rock where Laura is an anchor, was awarded an Emmy in October for their work on Saving a Generation: The New Face of Drug Addiction. Laura led the project, which takes a look at the drug addiction crisis in Arkansas. She now travels the state sharing her personal story with youth organizations, local churches and schools. The opioid crisis is plaguing our Nation and hurting too many of our families, and I am proud to recognize Laura's passion and lasting commitment to tackling this devastating epidemic throughout Arkansas and the country.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Central Arkansas Water's new tool to detect leaks in its distribution system--Vessel, the nation's first water leak detection dog. A black Labrador mix, Vessel is the first of her kind in the United States that can detect leaks of treated water. She is a rescue dog that graduated from the Arkansas Paws in Prison program that gives incarcerated inmates the opportunity to train rescue dogs and reduce the number of unadopted dogs in shelters. Vessel is trained to sniff out the chlorine in treated water and lay down and bark when she finds the leak. Using Vessel's skills can be a more cost-effective and efficient option than other leak detection technology. Vessel is now an integral part of Central Arkansas Water, and I thank CEO Tad Bohannan for his innovation and I look forward to seeing Vessel's good work in our communities for years to come.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize researchers at the Arkansas Children's Research Institute for their hard work in developing a treatment for peanut allergy in children. Recently, the FDA announced the approval of Palforzia, an oral immune therapy that gradually desensitizes children to peanut proteins. This therapy has the potential to greatly reduce allergy-related deaths in children, given that 2.5 percent of children suffer from peanut allergies. This treatment would not have been possible without the research of Dr. Stacie Jones and her team on oral immune therapy. They developed the methods used in the trials for this peanut allergy treatment. I am proud to have such a skilled team of experts in my district at Children's Hospital, where I served on the board of directors for 14 years.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. This bill will provide much-needed relief and help Arkansas' families, hospitals, and businesses in this unprecedented time. I have spent much of the last 2 weeks in constant communication with Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and his team as well as representatives and workers from almost every industry in our State. I thank them for their compassionate and hard work. I thank them for their perseverance. Mr. Speaker, honorary American Winston Churchill said, ``You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing after they have tried everything else,'' so I am thankful that we rejected irrelevant ideas and that both sides finally set aside their differences and came to agreement that will help our families in these trying times. May God bless the State of Arkansas, and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, the health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19 is unprecedented in our lifetimes. We are seeing the number of cases rise throughout the country, including in my home state of Arkansas. After being in nearly constant communication with the Arkansas Governor's office, hospitals, first responders, and business leaders in Arkansas, relief from the federal government is needed to help fight this virus and help keep our businesses from going under. It is for these reasons that if a roll call vote is called for the vote on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, I will vote yes. Mr. Flores. Mr. Speaker, I rise to state that if there is a recorded vote, I would vote: ``yea'' on H.R. 748, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, as amended. As referenced in my earlier remarks during the H.R. 748 debate, this legislation takes vital steps to send cash to struggling Texas families, provide economic relief for small businesses and working Americans, and give our healthcare providers more of the resources they need.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Saraswathy (Sara) Battar for her groundbreaking work at the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System (CAVHS). Dr. Battar developed a mnemonic guide, called VIONE, to help deprescribe unneeded medications. VIONE stands for Vital, Important, Optional, Not indicated, and Every medication has a specific indication for use. Launched in 2016, VIONE is an electronic tool that uses five filters to assess medications and has benefitted more than 77,000 veterans at 24 VA facilities. To date, over 168,000 prescription orders have been discontinued, achieving more than $5.8 million in cost avoidance while ensuring veterans are only taking the medications they need. Dr. Battar is a champion for the veterans community throughout Arkansas and the country, and I am proud to recognize her commitment to better serve our Nation's heroes.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to add my thanks to Congressman Heck and Congressman Hollingsworth for their leadership on this. It really draws attention to this issue. It is an issue that comes up before our committee so frequently, how we lower that cost of housing. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend from Washington also emphasizing first-time home buyers and that starter home buyer. It is so important. I am blessed in greater Little Rock to live in a place that is still pretty affordable, by national standards, to get that first home and get started in the right way. But I think, to look at it on a national basis, I really thank my friend from Washington. Mr. Speaker, I have to say, though, he is such a young and dynamic person, I have never thought of him as a boomer. This Congress will be a weaker place, a less happy place, because Denny Heck has decided to step down and return to hearth and home and another way after this Congress. I want to say here before his friends and our colleagues what a privilege it has been to serve with him for the past 5 years. I thank him for the leadership on this bill. I thank my friend from Guam for managing this effort. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 4351. This bipartisan legislation would require localities to analyze the artificial barriers that local zoning requirements create that hinder the production of affordable housing. Republicans agree with our friends across the aisle that the cost of local zoning rules and regulations at all levels of government often contribute to the high cost of housing. In fact, according to the National Association of Home Builders and the National Multifamily Housing Council, up to 30 percent of the cost of building each unit of housing can be attributed to these barriers. The impact of local zoning and regulatory barriers is particularly apparent in high-cost areas, particularly on the East and West Coasts of this land, where zoning and regulatory costs can be upward of 50 percent of a total project's cost before it even breaks ground. Mr. Daryl Carter, founder, chairman, and CEO of Avanath Capital Management, outlined some of these zoning barriers on behalf of the National Multifamily Housing Council when he testified before the Financial Services Committee in April 2019. Examples include onerous and extended entitlement requirements, excessive impact and linkage fees, business license taxes, assessment and inspection fees, outdated minimum parking requirements, and lengthy environmental site assessments. These costs prevent sufficient numbers of new housing units from being built to satisfy demand, driving up housing prices and making housing even more unaffordable. It is important to reiterate that this bill doesn't punish communities or insert the Federal Government into any local zoning matters. All it does is requests localities that receive Federal community development funds to report on the policies that they have in place. This legislation is a good first step in assisting Congress to better understand these local barriers to constructing new affordable housing. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5003. I thank the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean) for introducing this legislation. Our servicemembers put their lives on the line for us every day. The last thing we want is that, when they are serving, they are to be distracted. H.R. 5003 prohibits debt collectors from using threats against the servicemember's rank or security clearance or threats of prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Not only are such practices unfair, they increase the risk of harm to the servicemember's military readiness. During the committee markup of H.R. 5003, Republicans expressed concerns that there were too many unanswered questions about how this bill could impact military readiness. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stivers) offered an amendment to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the impact of this bill and what its impact is on the timeliness with which servicemembers are informed about debts and collection, as well as on military readiness and national security. Mr. Speaker, I thank the bill's sponsor and Chair Waters in accepting Mr. Stivers' constructive addition. This bill is a commonsense approach to ensure that Congress considers the connection between national security and the protection of servicemembers from unfair practices. Mr. Speaker, it is very important today that we thank the Department of Defense and the House Armed Services Committee for their support and analysis in making this a quality measure for us to consider. All Americans deserve to be treated with dignity and respect when faced with repaying a debt. This is especially true for our servicemembers who fight for our freedoms every day. This bill will provide important safeguards, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I think that was an excellent description of why this bill is needed. We honor the 1 percent of Americans that go out, put on the uniform, and serve the other 99 percent of Americans, those who work for our freedoms every day around the world, 24/7. This is one of the least things we can do to make servicemembers' lives and the lives of those military families at the margin better. I thank my friends for bringing this bill. I appreciate its sponsor. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the legislation, H.R. 5932, which I introduced recently, and I was fortunate to have the Speaker's assistance on this, my friend from Missouri, Mr. Cleaver, in designing this legislation. It is just one issue that relates to a complex set of issues around China's access to the World Bank and China's engagement in the world as a creditor. But H.R. 5932, Ensuring Chinese Debt Transparency Act, would require the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive director at each of the international financial institutions that it is U.S. policy to ensure greater transparency in Chinese Government lending to countries that are also beneficiaries of those international financial institutions. Specifically, this bill would require the Secretary to report annually to Congress on the progress in advancing this policy, and secondly, lending to foreign countries by entities owned or controlled by the Chinese Government. As we know, the international financial institutions include the International Monetary Fund, the IMF, the World Bank, and the regional development banks. The IMF lends to foreign countries in order to resolve balance-of-payments crises, while the development banks finance projects with the long-term aim of alleviating poverty. With the growth of China's global presence, there is concern that the developing nations that borrow from Beijing will become overburdened, forcing them to be rescued by the IMF or complicating the development banks' ability to properly underwrite loans for new projects. Specifically, the Belt and Road Initiative is of significant concern. The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative is a global development strategy adopted by the Chinese Government in 2013. It involves infrastructure development and investments in nearly 70 countries and international organizations in Asia, Europe, and in Africa. To date, according to Morgan Stanley's estimates, the Belt and Road Initiative has committed more than $200 billion with estimates that China may invest up to $1.3 trillion by 2027. Other estimates have the current number closer to $400 billion. Either number dwarfs the post- World War II Marshall Plan, which, measured in today's dollars, would be $130 billion. However, unlike the Marshall Plan, Belt and Road Initiative financing can make underwriting assistance difficult or even unworkable for developing countries as the initiative has opaque financing terms. China simply doesn't report on this lending in any systematic way, and there is no evidence that China is adopting international transparency standards from the multilateral development banks or engages in best practices to prevent debt traps, corruption, or poor construction outcomes. China needs to be held accountable to ensure that it is not taking advantage of vulnerable economies in these countries. In my view, the World Bank and the IMF must know the terms and conditions of opaque Chinese lending, what those entail, when they are considering a sovereign loan to a country that goes to the World Bank or the IMF for assistance. On a trip to the Republic of Congo back in 2017, I witnessed this firsthand when I saw the burdens and impact of Chinese lending on that oil-based economy. Now, the Republic of Congo finds itself in the hands of the IMF in negotiating with them for a payments loan. This legislation will contribute to that overall accountability by seeking to secure greater transparency consistent with the principles of the Paris Club, a group of global creditors, including the United States, who find workable solutions for nations currently in debt. In theory, many of the underlying policies in this legislation should already be practiced; however, due to political insensitivities, inertia, and other concerns, that doesn't always happen. This legislation will underscore the United States' leadership and help develop a global multilateral effort to ensure more scrutiny for China. As China becomes a major creditor nation, it should be held to a high standard. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. In conclusion, I would say that this is the way to build a partnership between the multilateral countries of the world that support the World Bank and the IMF and have China have more scrutiny on their opaque terms and conditions, which in turn should allow better outcomes for our developing nations around the world, less chance of falling into a debt trap. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I thank my friend from Missouri for his assistance and my friend from Guam for managing the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5931, the Improving FHA Support for Small Dollar Mortgages Act. Studies suggest that borrowers of small dollar mortgages, those amounts under $70,000, may be disproportionately denied when compared to loans of higher amounts, even when the credit profiles of the borrowers are similar. Specifically, the Urban Institute reports that, in 2015, roughly 25 percent of homes purchased for $70,000 or less were financed with a mortgage compared to 80 percent of houses worth between $70,000 and $150,000. If there is such a disproportionate amount of denials, this could be an issue for families in my district and many others who are trying to buy a first home, particularly in our rural communities across our country. H.R. 5931 is a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Clay of Missouri and Representative Stivers of Ohio and was reported to the House by the House Financial Services Committee last week. This bill seeks to better understand what is happening in small dollar mortgage lending. This bill asks the fundamental question: Are there borrowers who otherwise qualify for a mortgage who are being left out of the market as an unintended consequence of FHA's own rules and regulations? After all, the FHA mission is to serve creditworthy borrowers without bias, no matter what the loan size is. If FHA can identify how its own regulations are hurting borrowers' access to credit and remedy the problem without affecting the health of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, then they should do so. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my friends, Mr. Clay and Mr. Stivers, for bringing this issue to our attention and for their work on this bill. I would like to take the opportunity to thank my friend from Guam for managing this bill this afternoon. H.R. 5931 is a positive example of Congress identifying a problem and working together to understand the causes and to identify a reasonable solution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.