{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://tipton.house.gov/press-release/weekly-update-congressman-scott-tipton", "Weekly Update from Congressman Scott Tipton", "2014-10-20", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Scott Tipton", "T000470", "tipton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "*To see other recent newsletters and to subscribe to receive updates from Congressman Tipton click HERE.\nDear Friend, I want to give you a quick update from the road this week on some of the things we\u2019ve been working on as we travel through the 3rd District. The spread of Ebola in West Africa, and now the cases here in the U.S. are cause for serious concern. Just this week the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u00a0held an oversight hearing on the government\u2019s response to the outbreak so far, and on what needs to be done to contain it in West Africa and prevent it from spreading in the U.S. Based on the testimony in that hearing and on additional information I have seen, I believe that there are commonsense steps that can and should be taken now to contain the spread, including visa/travel restrictions on West Africa and more stringent screening and quarantines. I will continue to closely monitor this situation, and work with my colleagues to ensure that resources are available and responsible actions are being taken to stop the spread of Ebola. We have also been working this week to continue to address two key issues that have a significant impact on the 3rd District and the Western U.S.\u00a0 I joined a number of my colleagues in a letter to ask House leaders to provide certainty for counties by including funding for PILT and SRS in the upcoming FY2015 budget. Counties rely on PILT and SRS to help fund public safety, education and infrastructure. Learn more about why PILT and SRS are necessary HERE. We sent a letter this week to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell expressing concerns over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\u2019s self-imposed, superficial listing deadline for the Greater Sage Grouse that could jeopardize existing state and local preservation efforts and impact the bird\u2019s overall wellbeing. As I\u2019ve said many times before, the best way to preserve the species is through scientifically supported locally-tailored species preservation efforts\u00a0like those currently underway in Colorado. Such efforts have the flexibility to account for the specific ecological and geographic conditions of a region; ensuring more effective, targeted species preservation can take place. A broad federal ESA listing would disrupt these efforts in favor of a less-effective, one-size-fits-all approach that would implement the same restrictions and requirements over a range of 186 million acres in eleven western states regardless of unique local conditions. Additionally, I\u2019m proud to report that we received recognitions this week from the\u00a0American Farm Bureau Federation and National Association of Manufacturers\u00a0for our pro-growth work in Congress to get the economy moving and restore opportunities for Americans to get back to work and prosper. Restoring American economic prosperity is critical for this and the next generation\u2019s future. This month I spoke to students at Bayfield and Pueblo West high schools, as well as visited with students we had nominated to U.S. Service Academies who are now attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. Listening to these students\u2019 questions and concerns, and engaging with them on their ideas for the future was inspiring\u2014the students of the 3rd District are truly among the very best and brightest anywhere. It confirmed why it is so important to correct our nation\u2019s course and restore the economic strength and promise that has provided previous generations with the American Dream. Our children and grandchildren deserve every chance at success, and I am committed to continuing to work in Washington to do all I can to fight for commonsense policies that get government out of the way, allow the private sector to work, and give the next generation the opportunity to forge their path and achieve their goals. It is truly an honor to serve the people of the 3rd District. As always, I appreciate your feedback and ideas and invite you to reach out to me anytime. You can call my office or send an email HERE. Sincerely,\nScott\n\u00a0\nIn Case You Missed It\n  Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: Feds asked to extend comments on Western cuckoo: Representatives from several Western states, including U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., are asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to continue taking comment on the status of the Western yellow-billed cuckoo and its habitat through Dec. 14. (UPDATE: The comment period has been extended for 60 days.) Read more. Tipton stresses importance of rural broadband access: Congressman Tipton underscored that rural broadband access is critical for education and economic development during an event to mark the near completion of a long-awaited project to bring broadband access to Silverton from Durango. Read more. Tipton welcomes Small Business Administration's call for EPA to withdraw \u2018Waters of the U.S.\u2019 rule: SBA Advocacy stated that \u201cthe Agencies improperly certified the rule. Advocacy believes that the rule will have direct effects on small businesses and that these effects will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses,\u201d and \u201cAdvocacy recommends that the Agencies withdraw the proposed rule and conduct a panel [to examine impacts] prior to re-proposing the rule.\u201d Read more. Elk Creek Elementary School in New Castle named National Blue Ribbon School: Congressman Tipton commended the teachers, students and staff of Elk Creek Elementary School in New Castle for being named a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Only 337 public and private schools across the nation received the honor this year, which according to the Department is awarded to schools \u201cfor their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups, demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels.\u201d Read more. Cortez Journal: Tipton honored by state Farm Bureau: On Friday, Oct. 10, Tipton was honored on the Phyllis and Sidney Snyder ranch near Lewis by the Colorado Farm Bureau for his tireless work in the 113th Congress on behalf of agriculture issues that impact farmers. He was presented with an American Farm Bureau Federation\u2019s Friend of Farm Bureau Award. Read more.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://tipton.house.gov/press-release/weekly-update-congressman-scott-tipton"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.620135037228465, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}