Cong. French Hill Discusses Trade Promotion Authority, Ex-Im Bank

Second District Congressman French Hill, R-Little Rock, says it is too early to tell how much federal aid may be needed to help with flooded areas of Arkansas.

Appearing on this week’s edition of Talk Business & Politics, which airs Sundays at 9 a.m. on KATV, Ch. 7, Hill said he’s waiting for feedback from the counties impacted and the state before making a decision what to do.

“I think that the Governor is dealing with some counties that have a preliminary damage assessment down in the Red River Valley and all along in the Second District along the Arkansas River. We need to get that preliminary damage assessment back and see what that might lead to,” Cong. Hill said.

He said he has spoken to all of the county judges in his Central Arkansas district and he’s personally toured several flooded areas.

“I want to try to be as helpful as we can after we find out where go from here,” Hill said. “What fits? If it’s mostly agricultural land, there may be modest, little things to do. But I want to see those assessments and I’ll try to be as helpful as I can to our county judges and the governor.”

Hill also discussed a number of additional issues Congress is grappling with, including:

Highways and infrastructure – Hill said a 5-7 year highway spending plan appears to be gaining consensus, but funding solutions do not. “No one has proposed something that I think’s got traction in the House or the Senate yet,” he said.

Trade Promotion Authority – Hill supports it, but thinks the Democrats don’t have the votes they need to pass in the House. “I think Trade Promotion Authority is the way you set the rules on trade,” said Hill.

Export-Import Bank – Hill, whose career path involved banking and finance, said he’s neutral on the controversial refunding of Ex-Im Bank presently. “Right now, I haven’t made up my mind on how I feel about reauthorization of the bank,” he said.

Golden Fleece award – Hill has resurrected the Golden Fleece award, once championed by former U.S. Sen. William Proxmire, D-Wisconsin. “I love this idea because it humanizes government waste. We’ve got to get spending under control and accountability in government. The way to do that, I think, is to tell stories and point it out,” Hill said.

Watch his full interview in the video below.