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.
| I was inspired by the work of my great friends Dr. Fitz Hill, former President of Arkansas Baptist College, and Dr. Jerome Green, President of Shorter College. Both of these men have innovated to find ways to educate men and women about to be released from incarceration to enable them to be successful in society by giving them both soft skills and job skills. That’s what inspired my Shift Back to Society Act that I have introduced each Congress. This bill supports innovation in education by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for those incarcerated Americans about to reenter society. Specifically, it provides grants to HBCUs to help incarcerated individuals successfully find a job and transition back into their communities. Education leads to better choices, jobs, and more accountability that can help break the cycle of criminal behavior in low-income communities. Each year, my Shift Back to Society Act has been included in appropriations legislation. |