Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I also want to thank Chairwoman McCollum and Ranking Member Joyce for working with me on this very important amendment.

In North Carolina's Eighth Congressional District, we are fortunate to have the Uwharrie National Forest. Throughout my time in Congress, I have heard horror stories from my constituents of the danger of the public roads within the Uwharrie National Forest.

I have seen these roads firsthand and can testify to the critical need of paving these roads.

My amendment works towards improving and maintaining these roads and assuring public access to this State treasure.

One of my constituents had a heart attack, and the ambulance couldn't get down the road because of the ruts and the washouts. Thankfully, the desperate, resourceful paramedics got out of the ambulance and sprinted down the road with a stretcher.

Another one of my constituents, their house burned to the ground because the road was so impassable, a firetruck couldn't get down to put out the blaze.

These are just a few of the examples of the severe public safety concerns that my constituents are facing due to the inability of the Park Service to maintain these roads.

It is unacceptable, and it is one reason why I have worked so hard to advocate on behalf of Uwharrie National Forest and advocate for more resources for the Park Service in general.

Mr. Chair, I want to thank the Chief of the Forest Service, Ms. Christiansen, for her attention to this issue and for working with me to address this public safety crisis.

In addition, Mr. Chair, I want to, again, thank Chairwoman McCollum for her work to increase funding for road construction in this legislation.

I will continue to work and stress the urgency of this issue until my constituents are safe. It is my duty as a Congressman to get this done.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment as well as the en bloc.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source