Rep. Jenkins Secures Funding for WV Economic Redevelopment
Statement
U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) has secured an additional $30 million for West Virginia to invest in diversifying the economy and attracting new industries.
Rep. Jenkins worked to include this funding and other West Virginia priorities in the Fiscal Year 2019 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which the committee passed late Wednesday afternoon.
Through his role on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jenkins has already brought $80 million to West Virginia since 2016 to diversify the state's economy and reclaim abandoned mine lands.
"Our state needs jobs, and we can create these jobs by diversifying our economy, revitalizing our communities, and reclaiming our abandoned mine lands. This legislation also continues making critical investments to improve our air and water while also reflecting President Trump's goal to rein in outdated, unnecessary and job-killing regulations at the EPA. This bill supports the EPA's core functions without furthering a radical environmental agenda that has hurt the Mountain State," Rep. Jenkins said.
The bill funds important West Virginia programs, including:
$500 million for the Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which provides millions to West Virginia counties like Greenbrier and Pocahontas to pay for local services like police, firefighters, school and road construction.
$1.6 billion for the Fish and Wildlife Service, which will fund operations at hatcheries like the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery.
$3.25 billion for the National Park Service.
The bill also encourages the U.S. Forest Service to increase timber sales. Rep. Jenkins has asked the U.S. Forest Service to increase sustainable logging in the Monongahela National Forest to help prevent forest fires, create jobs, and ensure the health of the forest.
It includes a full repeal of the Waters of the United States rule, building on actions taken by Congress and an executive order from the president last year.
Source