Congressional Update: Working for economic recovery

U.S. Congresswoman Herrera Beutler | E-Newsletter

District Update | December 23, 2011

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A “win” for Southwest Washington jobs

This week, Southwest Washington celebrated a “win” for thousands of its manufacturing and forest-industry jobs. The U.S. House and Senate passed a one-year version of my bipartisan “forest roads” initiative that would protect timber-related employers from a stifling and unnecessary new bureaucratic rule. I’ve been working on this initiative with my colleague Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) since July.

This victory comes from the hard work of many in the business and labor communities who want to protect jobs in our region. You can read more about this positive development here.

The “Forest Roads” Rule By the Numbers:

- The Forest Roads rule would cost the forest and forest product-related industries in the Northwest up to $883 million per year.

- Private forest lands in Washington state are responsible for more than 110,300 jobs and provide $4.9 billion to the nation’s economy.

Protecting our wildlife refuges

For nearly 75 years, Pacific County residents and visitors from all over have enjoyed the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge in Pacific County. I was pleased to announce this week that I fought for, and Congress passed, a federal protection for this community treasure. This protection provides a directive that that this Refuge, which includes foraging habitat for the threatened dusky Canada goose, should not be flooded and permanently altered at least through April of 2012.

It’s important for those who care about this Refuge to continue making their voices heard. I’ll keep working hard so that residents of Southwest Washington are the ones who shape its future

Payroll tax holiday extended

I am glad that Congress reached an agreement on the payroll tax cut extension, and that Southwest Washington residents will not see their taxes go up on January 1. I have consistently supported continuing the payroll tax cut, extending unemployment insurance and making sure Medicare patients have access to the medical care they need.

Still, a longer-term solution is needed. Earlier this month, I voted for a bipartisan plan that would have extended these priorities for at least one year. I’ll continue to work with Congressional leadership to quickly pass a more permanent plan.