For America to compete on the global stage in energy production, we must tap into the natural resources lying right here in our own backyard. With the lithium deposits found in the Fourth District, the Natural State is well-positioned to contribute greatly to unlocking our nation’s domestic energy potential. The South West Arkansas Project invests in that potential by reducing our reliance on foreign supply chains and driving regional growth through employment opportunities and infrastructure investment. Congressman Westerman is grateful for the folks in Washington and in Arkansas who have made this exciting announcement possible.

JUST REINTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE: Fair Care Act! For a health care system that is the largest contributor to our federal debt and where Americans spend over $5 trillion annually, we cannot afford to let partisan politics stand in the way of common sense and quality care. That's why Congressman Westerman reintroduced the Fair Care Act. It's time to take politics out of the equation and inject common sense and competition into the health care marketplace to make health care more economical, straightforward, and accessible to all Americans. The Fair Care Act: ✔️Modernizes health savings accounts by merging health care accounts into one simple Health Savings Account. ✔️Creates changes to the insurance market to make it easier to access cheaper health plans, including short-term insurance. ✔️Promotes price transparency and competition to reduce the monopoly power of hospitals, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical industries for lower costs. ✔️Creates reforms to Medicare and Medicaid to offer greater help for those who may not qualify for Medicaid but still struggle to afford insurance, and allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and compare insurance plans so senior citizens can get tailored care instead of getting stuck in a one-size-fits-all system.

In Arkansas and across the country, pulpwood mills are closing, leaving in their wake unemployed Americans and underutilized, valuable wood products that have gone to waste. This is neither benefiting our rural communities nor stewarding our natural resources well, and it leaves the forest industry in desperate need of new markets for residuals and low-value wood. On the House Floor, Congressman Westerman urged his colleagues to vote in favor of @RepBentz’s amendment to the Farm Bill that expands the definition of woody biomass that ultimately benefits our rural communities and unleashes greater opportunities for our timber products industry.

Today, Congressman Westerman launched the bipartisan Gulf South Business Caucus that will champion pro-growth policies and regional development across the Gulf states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas for energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and industrial growth. The Gulf South region is integral to America’s energy production, manufacturing, and workforce demand. When the Gulf South region succeeds, America succeeds!

Happy Earth Day! We observe this day as a reminder to be good stewards of the abundant resources we have been given. https://t.co/LGMeMOEsRw

National Work Zone Awareness week is an excellent reminder for all of us to stay alert, slow down, and be mindful of the men and women working to improve our roadways! https://t.co/x5eaTAYlKY

The Fourth District thanks you for your service, Staff Sgt. Chitwood. Welcome home. https://t.co/H36M0c5oZR

Thank you to all of our lineworkers who keep our communities powered! We are grateful for all you do — rain or shine!

Our office has been made aware of text messages circulating regarding a Telephone Town Hall today. Our office does not send mass text messages and a Telephone Town Hall was held last night. If you receive a message like this, please do not click on any links or share personal information. We also encourage you to report the message as spam and delete it from your inbox.

Tourism is a major contributor to Arkansas’ economy, responsible for bringing in billions of dollars annually and providing over 14,000 job opportunities for Arkansans in the Fourth District alone. As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, we celebrate its great beauty from coast to coast. Right here in the Fourth District of Arkansas, we are blessed with many prime locations, even a historic national park, that highlight the beauty of the Natural State. I enjoyed meeting with Shea Lewis, Secretary of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, and Arkansas Tourism Director Dalaney Thomas, as we discussed the role Congress plays in expanding greater opportunities for domestic and international visitors to explore all that the United States has to offer — ultimately contributing to our economic success.