Yearly Archives: 2015

The Apache Stronghold is a community association dedicated to ending the theft of native lands, specifically the theft of the sacred Oak Flat lands in Arizona. The Stronghold has been occupying the Oak Flat campground since February 2015. To hear more about their struggle and efforts please join us on November 21st and 22nd for the For the Community Festival!

Habitat for Humanity of Pulaski County recently received a $70,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and Bank of the Ozarks, an FHLB Dallas member institution. The funds will be used to reduce the mortgage principal for 10 low-income, first-time homebuyers, thus lowering their monthly payments.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today released the following statement after supporting House passage of H.R. 3192, the Homebuyers Assistance Act, which provides temporary regulatory relief from the Truth in Lending Act (TILA)-Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule by establishing a hold-harmless period lasting until February 1, 2016

Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi today renewed calls to increase funding for the Shore Protection Fund as a persistent nor’easter continued to bite away at dunes up and down the coastline. Fiocchi sponsors legislation to double the annual contribution to the fund.

A $69,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and member institution Simmons First National Bank will help 10 very low-income families afford new homes through the Universal Development Housing Corporation (UHDC). The AHP funds will be used for down-payment and closing-cost assistance for participants in the Mutual Self-Help program

A $69,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and member institution Simmons First National Bank will help 10 very low-income families afford new homes through the Universal Development Housing Corporation (UHDC). The AHP funds will be used for down-payment and closing-cost assistance for participants in the Mutual Self-Help program

The House Energy and Commerce Committee today approved NAHB-supported energy legislation that will reform the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) in the development of energy codes and encourage meaningful savings for residential construction that are achievable and cost-effective.

WASHINGTON – Legislation to recognize the civic contributions of Judge Jacob Trieber by renaming the Helena-West Helena Federal building in his honor heads to the president’s desk for final approval after the House of Representatives unanimously supported the bill today. Trieber was the first Jewish Federal Judge and a long-time resident and community leader of Phillips County. The Senate unanimously approved the bill in August. “We owe this honor to Judge Trieber who was a well-respected leader in Phillips County. This is a great tribute that symbolizes the important work he did for the community and in pursuit of justice as the nation’s first Jewish federal judge. I’m pleased that my colleagues in the House of Representatives supported this legislation,” Senator John Boozman, who introduced the legislation, said. “Driven by his unmatched dedication to justice and equality for all people, Judge Trieber took it upon himself to fight against all types of injustices, including institutionalized racism, which he opposed six decades before finally being vindicated by the Supreme Court and the Civil Rights act of 1964. By naming Helena's Federal building in his honor, we preserve his unparalleled judicial spirit and dedication to equal opportunities for everyone," Congressman Rick Crawford, who introduced the bill in the House, said. Judge Jacob Trieber served as the first Jewish federal judge. He was appointed by President William McKinley and served from 1900-1927 as the federal judge for the U.S. Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas where he built a reputation as a jurist who sought equal justice for all people. Judge Trieber had astounding foresight, and many rulings he made that were of significant importance regarding civil rights and wildlife conservation still affect us today. His commitment to the community also included time as an elected official on the Helena City Council and the Phillips County treasurer. Judge Trieber played an influential role in saving the Old State House and establishing the Arkansas State Tuberculosis Sanatorium.

Legislation to recognize the civic contributions of Judge Jacob Trieber by renaming the Helena-West Helena Federal building in his honor heads to the president’s desk for final approval after the House of Representatives unanimously supported the bill today. Trieber was the first Jewish Federal Judge and a long-time resident and community leader of Phillips County. The Senate unanimously approved the bill in August.

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) to introduce legislation that authorizes federal homeless veteran programs for the next fiscal year. The Keeping Our Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness Act would ensure seven Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor programs would continue to operate for the next fiscal year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently congratulated Our House for the redevelopment of a boiler plant associated with the former Little Rock Veterans Administration Hospital. The project participants were recently honored at an awards ceremony in Chicago.

U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman today announced that 13 Arkansas airports will receive $8.5 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to support facility upgrades and expansions.

The Arkansas Dream Center was presented with a $50,000 check today on behalf of the Faulkner County Home Builders Association from the Home Building Industry Disaster Relief Fund of the National Association of Home Builders to assist in rebuilding homes in Faulkner County for uninsured and underinsured residents whose homes were destroyed in the 2014 tornado that devastated major areas of Vilonia and Mayflower, Arkansas.

Thursday afternoon the Arkansas Development Finance Authority awarded $10,911,780  in federal low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC), another $161,091 in state tax credits, $3,131,000 in federal HOME program funds, $1,444,783 in Rural Development Preservation Revolving Loan Funds,  $450,000 in mortgage settlement funds, and $200,000 in Finance Adjustment Factor (FAF) funds to help in the construction or renovation of  affordable rental developments located throughout Arkansas

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced that she has joined Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in a 17-State coalition to challenge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for illegally invalidating the individual air quality protection plans in those States. In June, the EPA issued a final rule requiring 35 States, including Arkansas, to revise their individual State Implementation Plans (SIP) governing excess emissions during startup, shutdown or malfunction