OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 6, 2017
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Infrastructure

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Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation to Chairman Frelinghuysen and Interior Subcommittee Chairman Calvert for their strong leadership and good work on this legislation and to thank them for this opportunity to speak today.

I rise to advocate on behalf of the U.S. national forests and their upkeep, specifically through the capital improvements and maintenance program. This program provides funding to pave our national forest roads, such as those within the Uwharrie National Forest located in my district.

Each year, the U.S. Forest Service is given funding to maintain roadways across our Nation. While they do their best to sustain roadways and trail access points, they can only do so much with the resources they are given. These roadways are an integral part of ensuring critical public access to our U.S. forestlands.

Unfortunately, many of our national forest roadways have become severely eroded from travel, age, and the elements. The erosion has created problems for those who visit the Uwharrie National Forest as well as those who access these roads to travel to and from their homes.

First responders have also not been able to reach residents in emergencies due to road conditions in recent years, causing major safety risks for people who live along these roads.

I emphasize this is more than just a headache for these residents, it is a real safety issue. I have seen roads firsthand after storms, and there is no way fire trucks and ambulances can access these roads in their current condition, and I believe it is completely unacceptable.

I have been advocating on behalf of the Uwharrie National Forest since my first term in Congress, and I will continue to engage with local, State, and Federal stakeholders on this issue.

I appreciate Chairman Calvert's attention to this issue and his support for the Capital Improvement and Maintenance program. I look forward to working together with the chairman to find a long-term solution to this issue.

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