Jobs and Economic Growth
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Rep. Bruce Westerman and Rep. Russ Fulcher
The two main benchmarks of environmental health are clean air and clean water. Healthy forests are critical for both. Unfortunately, years of catastrophic wildfires across the western United States have decimated many of our forests, turning critical wildlife habitats into ash and making it more difficult for trees to regenerate naturally.
To solve this problem – and prevent severe wildfires from happening in the first place – requires scientific forest management, coupled with aggressive reforestation goals. In turn, these efforts require a reliable, skilled workforce.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman and Peter MacKeith, Dean of University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design
Anyone who lives in the Natural State knows that Arkansas is one of the nation's greatest forest regions, and one of the country's leading producers of timber, harvesting more than 24 million tons per year, worth an estimated $445 million to landowners.
What the U.S. doesn't fully know yet, however, is how Arkansas' forests, timber and wood products are changing the discussion surrounding the environment forever.
Conservation is inherently conservative. While the Left has radicalized the narrative on environmental issues, I'm here to set the record straight. A strong economy and a clean environment go hand in hand. I was proud to re-introduce my bill, the Trillion Trees Act this week as a part of House Republicans' energy innovation agenda. The Trillion Trees Act is an important step in supporting market-based solutions to climate issues that we can all get behind.
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ) introduced the High Risk Rural Roads Safety Grant Program Act of 2021. Westerman and O'Halleran issued the following statements:
Recently, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to increase the population threshold for a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) to 100,000 or more persons. The current population threshold of 50,000 or more persons has been unchanged since 1950. Declassified cities will either lose access to some federal programs or see greatly diminished federal funding from those using the MSA designation as a qualifying factor.
WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA) sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) along with 51 colleagues requesting a reversal of the proposed rule to raise the population threshold for a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
President Donald Trump issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 20-26, 2020 as National Small Business Week. "Our nation's more than 30 million small businesses, which employ nearly half the private-sector workforce and create two-thirds of all net new jobs, are the key to propelling our economy to the prosperity levels America has enjoyed over the past three years," the president wrote. As many of these small businesses struggle to stay open after COVID-19, this national declaration is an important reminder to support our community-owned businesses.
When COVID-19 hit the U.S. early this year, about one-third of Americans began working from home to limit contact with others and slow the spread of the virus. However, many people still had to keep their businesses operating in order to keep essential infrastructure in place. Because of their work, we could consistently rely on stocked grocery store shelves and a functioning supply chain.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) released the following statement after concluding his Everyday Heroes tour:
Many businesses are still operating at limited capacity, with fewer staff or entirely remote work. In my offices, we've taken every precaution to ensure staff members' safety, but we are all still ready and able to help you with any issues you may be having with the federal government.