A ninth generation Arkansan, French Hill is the 22nd Member of Congress to represent central Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected on November 4, 2014, and began his first congressional term in the 114th Congress on January 3, 2015. He won reelection to serve in the 115th, 116th, and 117th sessions of Congress.
| The only wilderness area in central Arkansas is Flatside in the Ouachita National Forest established in 1984. Thirty years have passed since this area was established, and it was clear that there was a need to study the forest lands adjacent to the Flatside Wilderness in order to see if they should be included. With help from my great friends Don Hamilton, Kurt Wasson, and Tom McClure, who contributed to the original creation of this protected wild space, we designed a bill that would immediately add over 600 acres of forest to Flatside, and designate 2,000 more for study. The Flatside Wilderness Expansion Act was signed into law in January of 2019, creating the Bethune Woods section of the Flatside Wilderness Area for Arkansans, and visitors alike, to enjoy for generations to come. |