FRENCH HILL SELECTED TO CHAIR HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

by Roby Brock

U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, received the endorsement of the House GOP steering panel on December 12 to lead the House Financial Services Committee, an influential panel that guides domestic and international monetary, financial and regulatory policy.

Hill, a former banker, has been a member of the committee for several years. He earned the endorsement over three other longtime committee members, including Reps. Andy Barr of Kentucky, Bill Huizenga of Michigan, and Frank Lucas of Oklahoma.

The full House conference must still agree to the steering panel endorsement, but it is unlikely to change the recommendation.

Hill has been championing a plan in Congress to “Make Community Banking Great Again,” a play on President-elect Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” theme.

The Little Rock Republican has been a leader on curtailing perceived overregulation of the financial services industry and has guided cryptocurrency policy as Congress enters new territory in its regulation. According to the House of Representatives website, the House Financial Services Committee “has jurisdiction over issues pertaining to the economy, the banking system, housing, insurance, and securities and exchanges.”

ON HIS OFFICIAL TWITTER ACCOUNT, HILL SAID:

“I am humbled that my colleagues have placed their trust in me to lead @FinancialCmte as their next Chairman. It was a privilege to join my exceptional colleagues, @RepAndyBarr, @RepHuizenga, and @RepFrankLucas in sharing our visions for this committee.”