Who?Rep. French Hill (R-AR) — Chair, House Financial Services CommitteeLISTEN: Laslo & HillAsk a Pol asks:What do you see as the path forward on crypto in this new Congress?Key Hill:“We're going to work with [Senate Finance Committee] Chair Tim Scott and the new Digital Asset Subcommittee Chair Cynthia Lummis in the Senate to craft a path forward for both the dollar-backed stablecoin legislation and a regulatory market structure for digital assets as well,” Rep. French Hill exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “Those will be key, you know, early objectives.” Subscribe for FREE to get our latest crypto exclusives from the Capitol first! Or consider a paid, VIP subscription to support our work.ICYMI — Whip Tom Emmer bullish on crypto Caught our ear:“We've built the coalition about what those two policy objectives look like when we got that partisan feedback from them,” Hill tells us. “People have concerns about privacy, about the law enforcement aspects of digital assets and financial technology. And we believe we would address those in both the stablecoin draft legislation and how we crafted FIT that passed the House floor.”Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. French Hill (R-AR), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Rep. French HillSCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo is staking out the basement of the US Capitol as lawmakers make their way to vote on the floor of the House of Representatives when he runs into newly minted House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill. They then proceed to accidentally ride an elevator together for a few minutes… Matt Laslo: “Hey, how are you?”French Hill: “How are you?”ML: “Mr. Emmer told me to talk to you.”FH: “Mm-hm.”ML: “What do you see as the path forward on crypto for this Congress?”FH: “Yep. So I'll say on the record that we're going to work with [Senate Financial Services Committee] Chairman Tim Scott and the new Digital Asset Subcommittee Chair Cynthia Lummis in the Senate to craft a path forward for both the dollar-backed stablecoin legislation and a regulatory market structure for digital assets as well. Those will be key, you know, early objectives on a bicameral basis.” ML: “Yeah? And you think that one pretty early, cause it is still bipartisan?”FH: “I think, we, you know, we've done our homework.”ML: “Yeah?” FH: “We've done — we've built the coalition about what those two policy objectives look like and we’ve gotten bipartisan feedback from them. So yeah.”ML: “Now, there wasn't — well, there was outright opposition from the [Sen. Elizabeth] Warrens and {Rep. Brad] Shermans of the world — but do you feel like, not that they're powerless, but they're now the minority in this new Congress?” FH: “Look, I think people have concerns about privacy, about the law enforcement aspects of digital assets and financial technology. And we believe we’ve addressed those in both the stablecoin draft legislation and how we crafted FIT that passed the House floor. But we're, you know, always willing to talk to our colleagues about concerns they have.”Every bit helps! Support our independent crypto journalism by finding us on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!ML: “And do you think like, is it a new day for crypto here in Washington?”Hill enters elevator. ML: “Does it feel like it's a new day for crypto here in Washington?” Laslo enters elevator. FH: “I believe that…”ML: “Does the leadership get it more now?”FH: “I think over the last four years, actually starting back, or even longer, six years dating back to even Ranking Member Waters — then-Chair Maxine Waters — worked during Libra and, you know, the whole Facebook…” Elevator opens on the 2nd floor of Capitol. FH: “I’m going first, I’m sorry.”ML: “I’m going to basement.”The elevator goes up to the 3rd floor. FH: “I think that after four to six years of work and member education, that we are in a better place, that we have more members that are knowledgeable about the policy points in the discussion. So I believe this Congress is…” Elevator stops on the 2nd floor for second time. FH: “It’s a new day for this Congress, in that we have more members on both sides of the aisle that are familiar with these issues…”ML: “One more. We’re riding a local, sir.”Both are laughing as Hill point out to the expansive marble hallway just off the House floor. FH: “Beautiful building. You’ve done a lot of nice things with it.”ML: “19 years here and still doesn't get old.”FH: “Yeah.” ML: “Interesting. What are you expecting from Trump executive order-wise? Do you expect something early?”Elevator opens on 1st floor where Hill sees a colleague. . FH: “Hey Debby.” Debby: “Hey, how are you?” FH: “I’m interested in the approach the incoming administration takes on any executive order for this space, and certainly trying to ...
