Westerman Hosts DOI Deputy Secretary MacGregor

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) hosted Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary Katherine MacGregor in the Fourth District of Arkansas.

"The Natural State has millions of acres of federal land, and it's important that we maintain it properly to ensure it stays rich and beautiful for generations to come," Westerman said. "The Interior Department plays a big role in these conservation efforts, which is why I was so glad to host Deputy Secretary MacGregor in my district for the day. We had great conversations on how Congress and the Interior Department can work together on using our resources well. We were also able to highlight the Pledge to America's Workers initiative, since opportunities on Lake Ouachita and across Arkansas' public lands provide insights on American-made jobs supporting the outdoor recreation industry. I'm grateful to Deputy Secretary MacGregor for taking the time to come to Arkansas, and I hope to use our discussions to craft policy on the federal level."

"President Trump has made a commitment to foster the greatest economy in the world," MacGregor said. "With so many small businesses hit hard by this pandemic, it was inspiring to watch SeaArk join the ranks of over 450 business who have pledged over 16 million education and training opportunities for America's workers over the next five years."

Background

Westerman and MacGregor visited several sites in Hot Springs and the surrounding area. Their first stop was on the Pullman Trail, which opened June 24, 2020. This 0.65-mile trail connects hikers and mountain bikers from downtown Hot Springs to the Northwoods Trails through a section of Hot Springs National Park. A grant from the Walton Family Foundation supported development of the trail. The trail was constructed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association's (IMBA's) Trail Solutions crew, who also built Phase 1 of the Northwoods Trails and improved trails in Cedar Glades Park. With an ever-growing number of mountain biking trails around Arkansas, the Pullman Trail is a prime example of a public-private partnership working to improve visitor experience at our national parks and providing continued economic growth to the local community.

The group then toured Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs and attended a briefing on the Arkansas Career Development Center (ACTI) decommissioning. Hot Springs National Park Superintendent Laura Miller provided an overview of the park, highlighted the active forest management conducted to protect the watershed and community and gave an overview of the ACTI decommissioning.

Westerman and MacGregor later hosted a press conference at the Lake Ouachita Marina on the Pledge to America's Workers initiative, where SeaArk CEO Steve Henderson and Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Stacy Hurst discussed the recreational opportunities on the lake and why American-made jobs are so important. To watch the full press conference, click here.

Finally, the day concluded at the Mona Lisa mine, operated by Avant Mining. Workers at the mine recently discovered the largest American turquoise nugget on record, and the mine is situated on National Forest Service land with leased Bureau of Land Management subsurface. The tour highlighted an active quartz operation on federal land, and examined several unique specimens discovered by the Avant Mining Company.

###