Interview with Rep. French Hill on 'Face the Nation'

Hosted by CBS News

MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to Face the Nation. We are now joined by Congressman French Hill, a Republican from Arkansas, connecting with us from Little Rock. Greetings to you, Congressman.

REP. FRENCH HILL: Happy holidays, Margaret. Good morning.

Governance Challenges and Bipartisanship

MARGARET BRENNAN: The path to concluding legislative business recently was not easy, especially with 34 Republicans opposing a measure that all Democrats supported to keep the government operational. Does this reflect a struggle within the Republican Party to govern without bipartisan support? Is collaboration with Democrats essential moving forward?

REP. HILL: Collaboration is indeed crucial. It's essential for Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Thune to have a cohesive plan alongside the Trump administration, focusing on the President's and legislative priorities. With slender margins, teamwork is imperative, as seen in recent developments.

Legislative Agendas and Budget Reconciliation

MARGARET BRENNAN: With a thin majority and internal divides, as noted by Marc Short, pursuing complex policies like border control and tax reform will be challenging in 2025. How realistic are the prospects of fulfilling Trump's campaign promises?

REP. HILL: Commitment remains strong towards employing budget reconciliation to advance agendas such as bolstering American energy, securing borders, and combating inflation through deregulation. Republicans across the board align on these goals, and reconciliation will be instrumental in managing unwieldy deficits.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Given past struggles even with basic operations, can the Republican bloc achieve unified support on challenging issues in the House?

REP. HILL: Unity is attainable. Previous comprehensive border security strategies and energy policies already witnessed collective Republican support. Similarly, efforts to dismantle regulatory constraints will find backing across the House, aligning with Trump's campaign themes.

US-China Relations and Economic Policies

MARGARET BRENNAN: A clause regarding investments in China was removed from a bipartisan deal. Would it have empowered the President to sanction technologies potentially used against US interests? Concerns emerged, such as those from Rosa DeLauro, regarding corporate influences like Elon Musk's. Do you share her worries about resolving this issue?

REP. HILL: Executive efforts and congressional debates focus on curtailing investments in dual-use technologies that threaten national security. While complex, the stripped measure wasn't the primary contention. The focus was simplifying legislative packages into a viable resolution. Recent disaster aid agreements lobmerated priorities.

Women in Leadership and Committee Roles

MARGARET BRENNAN: There are concerns over the absence of women leaders among the newly appointed Republican committees. How does this align with your party's stance on leadership diversity?

REP. HILL: Although committee appointments are decided separately, we have prominent, effective Republican women contributing significantly. They are positioned for influential roles within financial policymaking, demonstrating strength in leadership.

International Drug Control and Regional Stability

MARGARET BRENNAN: The Assad regime's drug trade remains a significant challenge. What are the steps forward in the global effort to address this issue?

REP. HILL: Supporting a democratic Syria and addressing war crimes are priorities, alongside dismantling the captagon trade networks. Our collaborations with regional allies like Jordan and Saudi Arabia are crucial here, marking progress towards dismantling the regime's funding resources.

Ethics Committee Investigations

MARGARET BRENNAN: Could you comment on the upcoming release of documents from the House Ethics Committee concerning Matt Gaetz? Previously, you expressed concerns about setting a precedent by making such information public.

REP. HILL: I haven't advocated against disclosure but emphasized cautious deliberation before releasing committee findings, given potential implications for future investigations. The decision rests with the committee after thorough evaluation.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you, Congressman Hill, for your time. Enjoy the holiday season.