Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) concluded a tour of the Pacific Northwest, where he joined House Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) to discuss forestry, American energy and other issues.

"I'm so glad to be able to use some of this time away from D.C. to travel and hear from folks on the ground about how federal policy impacts their lives and livelihoods," Westerman said. "We toured a sustainable forestry operation, viewed the stark difference between a privately managed forest and a national monument, visited with tribal leaders about how their sustainable fishery operations are being impacted by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and much more. These discussions will further inform the legislation we craft back in D.C. I look forward to taking what we've learned on this trip and using it to identify solutions to streamline our federal bureaucracy, open up access, mitigate wildfire risk and unlock American resources."

Background

The members examined a variety of natural resources issues that affect the entire country during their stops across the Pacific Northwest. Topics included wildfire mitigation, sustainability initiatives, forest management, tribal issues, domestic energy and more.