Flatside Wilderness Additions Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1612) to designate the Flatside-Bethune Wilderness in the Ouachita National Forest, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1612

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Flatside Wilderness Additions Act''. SEC. 2. ADDITIONS TO FLATSIDE WILDERNESS.

Section 3(d) of Arkansas Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-508; 98 Stat. 2349) is amended by inserting ``and certain land in the Ouachita National Forest, which comprise approximately 2,212 acres, generally depicted as'' Land Proposed for Wilderness Designation ``on the map titled'' Flatside Wilderness, Proposed Addition Designation ``, dated November 12, 2024'' after ``1984''. SEC. 3. FIRE, INSECTS, AND DISEASES.

Nothing in this Act or the amendment made by section 2 shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture under section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)), in accordance with existing laws (including regulations). SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS ADDITION.

The wilderness designated by section 3(d) of Arkansas Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-508; 98 Stat. 2349), shall be known as the ``Flatside-Bethune Wilderness''. Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to such portion of the Flatside Wilderness shall be deemed to be a reference to the Flatside-Bethune Wilderness.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. 1612, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Hill's legislation, H.R. 1612, which would add four parcels totaling 2,215 acres of Ouachita National Forest lands to the Flatside Wilderness Area in his district.

The Ouachita National Forest is the oldest and largest national forest in the Southern United States, spanning nearly 1.8 million acres across Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, it is a true multiple-use forest, supporting timber harvesting, wildlife conservation, and a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities, such as hiking, hunting, camping, and fishing.

Arkansans take great pride in this forest, which draws more than 670,000 visitors each year. Currently, only 3.6 percent of the Ouachita National Forest, including the existing Flatside Wilderness Area, is designated as wilderness.

The Flatside Wilderness was expanded by 640 acres during the 115th Congress. The Forest Service also studied the potential designation of the parcels included in today's legislation.

This bill has strong local support and has been endorsed by Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders; the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism; and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Representative Hill for his efforts on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I would like to, once again, thank my colleague from Arkansas, especially Representative Hill, for his tireless efforts on this piece of legislation and for the diligence in the process that he labored through to get to this point today. I appreciate him bringing forth this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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