After accepting an award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her support of businesses on the house floor, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground speaks to a small crowd gathered in the banquet room of the Holiday Inn Express in Chehalis in June 2015.
U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, is applauded after receiving a pro-business award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Monday afternoon at a banquet room of the Holiday Inn Express in Chehalis.
In this June 2015 file photo, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., speaks with Chuck Haunreiter.
After accepting an award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her support of businesses on the house floor, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, speaks to a small crowd gathered in the banquet room of the Holiday Inn Express in Chehalis on Monday afternoon.
People line up to speak to U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, after she received a pro-business award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Monday afternoon at the Holiday Inn Express in Chehalis.
U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, points to her smile after receiving a pro-business award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Northwest Region Executive Director Christopher Eyler on Monday afternoon in Chehalis.
After accepting an award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her support of businesses on the house floor, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, speaks to a small crowd gathered in the banquet room of the Holiday Inn Express in Chehalis in June 2015.
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., talked about businesses and jobs with locals while being honored by the national and local chambers of commerce Monday.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce presented her with the Spirit of Enterprise Award for voting with the business community on 13 out of 14 issues.
Another business and environmental effort she supports is thinning forests facing health issues due to disease, drought and density.
She said the effort to live up to former President Bill Clinton’s Northwest Forest Plan would help not only forests such as the Gifford Pinchot, but also the timber industry and local communities.
While she didn’t have a number for how many new jobs the effort could create, she said it will help stabilize current timber jobs by reducing the damage wildfires could cause in densely forested areas.
Logging could improve the habitats of about 40 species close to being listed as endangered.
Taking an ecosystem approach to ramp up logging within the Northwest Forest Plan has been gaining consensus from both parties and different stakeholders including conservation groups and the timber industry, she said.
Herrera Beutler told community representatives at the award ceremony that when she took office, unemployment for the area was in the double-digits, making helping to create job growth a priority for her.
“As I’ve learned it’s really important to create that playing field where people can compete with their ideas, with their hard work,” Herrera Beutler said. “... One of the reasons I fought to get this job is because I really believe in the American dream.”
She said a lot of work needs to be done, but progress has been made to revitalize the economy and decrease the unemployment rate.
The congresswoman also noted progress cutting deficits dollar-per-dollar.
She highlighted the defunding of the Environmental Protection Agency’s effort regulate ponds and ditches.
“Those clean water permits are about $270,000 apiece per body of water and never mind how long it would take you to get it,” Herrera Beutler said.
She said farmers and business owners were the first groups to speak against the EPA’s efforts.
“My goal is ... creating a playing field where people can compete … not making it where we’re making it harder for you to grow jobs or create jobs, grow a business,” she said.
