Rep. Hill outlines priorities for bank regulatory changes, cryptocurrency

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, is the new chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, an influential panel that oversees the nation’s banking and securities sectors. Hill outlined his priorities for change in the 119th Congress in a recent Talk Business & Politics interview.

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When he campaigned for the House committee chairmanship, Hill rolled out a package of ideas titled “Make Community Banking Great Again” to explain how he would guide the panel and push for new legislation. A former U.S. Treasury official in the George H.W. Bush administration, Arkansas’ 2nd District Congressman said he wants to see regulations better tied to bank size.

“I believe strongly in tailoring regulations. So the more large and complex your business strategy, the more regulatory surveillance and scrutiny that you ought to have. The smaller and more straightforward your business, you ought to have a lighter touch of regulation. You still comply with the regulations, but you have it in a less costly way to the institution,” he said.

Rep. Hill outlines priorities for bank regulatory changes, cryptocurrency

Chairman Hill taps Dan Schneider and Brooke Nethercott to lead the Communications Team of the House Financial Services Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AR) today announced that Dan Schneider will serve as his Communications Director and Brooke Nethercott as his Deputy Communications Director of the House Financial Services Committee. Nethercott is serving as Acting Communications Director until Schneider joins the Committee later this month. 

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As Communications Director, Schneider will be responsible for driving messaging for the Committee, overseeing the communication’s team, advising the Chairman, and liaising with Committee leadership, the GOP Conference at-large, and relevant Senate Committees and staff.  

As Deputy Communications Director, Nethercott will lead media relations and serve as a liaison with the press and reporters at-large for the Committee. She will be point of contact for all media requests for the Chairman, oversee written materials, and work closely with Schneider to advise the Chairman, amplify messaging for the Committee, and drive the Chairman’s priorities. 

Schneider returns to Capitol Hill following two years at the Business Roundtable, where he served as Director, Communications. Previously, he spent over 10 years in the federal government, most recently as Communications Director for Chairman Hill from March 2021 to October 2022. Prior to that, Schneider served as Vice President of Communications at the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Associate Director for Communications at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Press Secretary at the House Committee on Energy and Commerce under former Chairmen Greg Walden (R-OR) and Fred Upton (R-MI), and Press Secretary for Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH).  

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Nethercott has been Chairman Hill’s Communications Director since November 2022, spearheading communications strategy, managing the communications team, and leading media relations. Prior to the U.S. House of Representatives, Nethercott was a Senior Consultant in Strategic Communications at FTI Consulting. Before her time in Washington, she worked in digital media for WebMD and Pandora Music in New York. 

"Dan and Brooke have been my trusted advisors and top communications strategists during my tenure in Congress. Dan’s extensive communications experience in federal government, paired with Brooke’s outstanding media relations background, brings invaluable expertise to the Committee. Their time in the public and private sector equips them with the unparalleled skillsets and knowledge to drive the Committee’s successes forward. I am delighted that Dan and Brooke will lead my communications team of the House Financial Services Committee."

Incoming Chairman Hill announces new Staff Director of the House Financial Services Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Incoming House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AR) today announced that Ben Johnson will serve as his Staff Director of the House Financial Services Committee.

Johnson has worked in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly a decade. He most recently served as Staff Director for the House Small Business Committee, where he was responsible for managing the Committee staff and advancing Chairman Roger William’s priorities. Prior to joining the House Small Business Committee, Johnson handled the financial services portfolios for Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) and Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM).

New Staff Director of the House Financial Services Committee Ben Johnson

“I have known Ben throughout my decade in Congress and have watched his impressive career progress. From his early days managing the financial services portfolios of Rep. Williams and Rep. Pearce to his most recent role as Staff Director on the House Small Business Committee, Ben possesses a deep understanding of American businesses, families, and seniors having access to business capital, mortgage credit, and investment advice and services. His time on the House Small Business Committee, paired with his decade of deep legislative knowledge in Congress, will make him an outstanding Staff Director of the House Financial Services Committee. I look forward to working with him as my Staff Director and watching his career continue to evolve as a leader on my Committee.”  

Representative French Hill statement on House Financial Services Committee Chairmanship

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement after the Steering Committee elected him to be the next Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

"I am humbled that my colleagues have placed their trust in me to lead the House Financial Services Committee as their next Chairman. It was a privilege to join my exceptional colleagues, Representatives Andy Barr, Bill Huizenga, and Frank Lucas, in sharing our visions for this committee.

"I look forward to working alongside Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain, and our whole leadership team as we work in tandem with President Trump and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott to bring common-sense economic policies that will produce a new era of American prosperity shared by all our citizens across our land."