Robert Hurt Wants More Factories

From U.S. Representative Robert Hurt, R-VA-5:

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Throughout my time in Congress, my number one priority has always been enacting pro-growth policies to provide hardworking people across Virginia’s Fifth District and around the country with opportunities for economic growth and job creation.

While unemployment remains unacceptably high, our communities have missed out on opportunities to bring major employers to the areas because unnecessary federal regulations have been standing in the way of progress. Toyota recently began assembling cars in Mississippi. Caterpillar is hiring 1,400 people for its new facility in Georgia. Boeing chose to invest billions of dollars in South Carolina.

We need to eliminate the federal roadblocks that prevent communities in Central and Southside Virginia from competing for these vital jobs.

 

In an effort to do so, the Virginia delegation recently came together in a bipartisan, bicameral effort by introducing legislation last week that will remove an impediment to economic growth and allow for industrial development and job creation throughout Virginia and the country. Along with Congressman Morgan Griffith, Senator Mark Warner and Senator Tim Kaine, I introduced the Commonsense Permitting for Job Creation Act, which restricts regulators from denying a permit for economic development site preparation due to the lack of a company committing to utilize the location.

 

Communities across the country have made every effort to acquire necessary permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prepare commercial properties to attract businesses to their area, but they have been denied at every turn because no company has committed to building a facility at that site. But without these permits, the likelihood of bringing manufacturing firms to these sites is extremely low if not impossible. The regulatory red tape preventing any of this progress from occurring is strictly bureaucratic – it defies commonsense to deny an otherwise legitimate and thoroughly prepared permit application for an economic development site because of a lack of commitment by a company for use.

 

This bill will establish reasonable and responsible guidelines to allow initiatives like Pittsylvania County’s Berry Hill Mega Park, Henry County’s Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre (CCBC), and other sites to move forward in the permitting process so they can attract major economic development projects with great potential to bring jobs to Central and Southside Virginia.

 

I look forward to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues in both the House and Senate to advance the Commonsense Permitting for Job Creation Act. I remain committed to encouraging economic growth in Virginia and implementing policies that create jobs across our country, and I am confident that this bill is a key part of the solution.

 

If you need any additional information, please visit my website at hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, Danville office: (434) 791-2596, or Farmville office: (434) 395-0120.
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