Rep. Bruce Westerman

If 2025 was all about tax reform, 2026 is all about permitting reform! It's an honor to lead the charge in crafting legislation that ultimately gets Arkansas building and lowers YOUR electricity bills and gas prices. It's time to put our taxpayers first and that's why I introduced the SPEED Act.

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.

“Now is the time to let America build, and the only way we do that is by returning certainty and clarity to the federal permitting process.” — @RepWesterman

.@RepWesterman: "From roads and pipelines to mines and airports, to the energy needed to light, heat, and cool our homes, permitting bureaucracy raises the cost of living in America." @NatResources

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.

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!

“By fixing the permitting process, we will enable our nation to do what it does best – innovate, produce and build – and every American will benefit.” #SPEEDAct Read more from Chairman @RepWesterman at @RiponSociety ⬇️ riponsociety.org/article/let-am…

The Fourth District thanks you for your service, Staff Sgt. Chitwood. Welcome home. arkansasonline.com/news/2026/apr/…

No one knows the land better than the people who live on it every day. States, sportsmen and women, tribes and local leaders have a vested interest in conserving species and wildlife. The #ESAAmendments Act provides positive incentives for recovery, promotes regulatory clarity and returns power to those closest to the land.

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.

Travel is essential to Arkansas. Great to speak with @RepWesterman and @artourism about how it drives the state’s outdoors economy, connects visitors to places like the Ozarks and supports the communities that rely on a strong travel industry.

Ahead of National Work Zone Safety Week next week, it was great to welcome Arkansas representatives from the American Traffic Safety Services Association. We discussed the great work they’re doing to advance roadway and work zone safety. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it’s a privilege to work on legislation that directly impacts the safety of our highway systems. Modernizing our surface transportation system is vital to ensuring the safety and efficiency for pedestrians, passengers, and drivers alike and remains a top priority of mine in Congress.

Many of my constituents in the Fourth District share my belief that our rural schools must be supported in a way that allows them to play a role as a community hub while also supporting our timber industry – the lifeblood for many of our communities across the Natural State. This news is certainly a victory for rural schools across Arkansas and the nation. fs.usda.gov/about-agency/n…

I’m pleased to see the Senate confirm John Shepherd’s nomination for U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Arkansas. Currently serving in El Dorado as Arkansas’ 13th Judicial Circuit Judge, John knows what it takes to succeed in this new role. His integrity, deep commitment to the rule of law, and devotion to his community will undoubtedly serve him and Western Arkansas well. Congratulations, John!

I am proud to introduce this resolution to recognize April as Second Chance Month. This piece of legislation champions second chances while highlighting the importance of restoring hope to individuals looking to reintegrate back into their communities with dignity. By investing in these individuals who have proven to be committed to rectifying their mistakes, we are investing in the future success and safety of our communities.

Permitting reform is pro-results. @RepWesterman SPEED Act means smarter, faster processes so we can build cleaner energy infrastructure sooner and deliver real environmental progress.

@RepWesterman points to a permitting system that has lost sight of common sense. When even basic upgrades like getting fiber optic cables into airport control towers are held up by red tape, the cost is not just economic. It can affect safety too. The same delays are slowing work on highways, ports, and airports across the country. If America wants safer infrastructure, stronger growth, and a government that works better, the permitting process has to move faster.