HOME | ABOUT | MEDIA | SERVICES | ISSUES
Getting Government Out of Your Irrigation Ditch
The last two years of the Biden administration have been marked by instance after instance of federal government overreach and overregulation. The administration’s approach to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Waters of the United States Rule (WOTUS) is just one example of the federal government sticking its nose where it doesn’t belong.  
 
This rule expands the definition of “navigable water” to include something as inconsequential as an irrigation ditch or a pond on a rancher’s land in Wyoming. That simply makes no sense. 
 
Our farmers and ranchers in Wyoming do not need the federal government to tell them what they can and cannot do on their private land. An irrigation ditch is not navigable water and certainly should not be under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
 
This week, I joined a bipartisan group of senators in voting on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the WOTUS Rule. This measure passed by a vote of 53-43. I voted in favor of this CRA to protect Wyoming landowners from this clear overreach and to protect our water, one of our most valuable resources, without overbearing regulations from the federal government.
 
Unfortunately, President Biden has vowed to veto this legislation, which will create more red tape and hoops to jump through for producers and increase prices for consumers. I will keep working on solutions to this issue, and will continue fighting for Wyoming landowners and our agricultural industry.
 
Happy Trails,
WORKING IN WASHINGTON

Legislative Actions:

  • Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and I reintroduced the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act to create a short-term authorization of funds to increase truck parking capacity and to improve existing truck parking infrastructure. 
    • Wyoming truckers work hard and spend long hours away from home to make sure all of us have food on the table. This bill will improve truckers’ lives, make highways safer and will cut down on supply chain delays. 
  • I joined Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in introducing the Reckless Student Loan Scheme Congressional Review Act to stop the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness bailout.
    • It is backwards and just plain wrong to ask Wyoming taxpayers to cover a $400 billion bailout of doctors, lawyers and those with multiple graduate degrees. If you take out a loan, it is your responsibility to pay it back.

Committee Hearings:

  • I questioned witnesses about the impact of the Biden administration’s far-left green agenda on Wyoming’s jobs and energy grid during a Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing. I pointed out that the EPA’s rush to implement the Good Neighbor Rule risks making the energy grids that power Wyoming households and businesses unreliable. Click here to watch my remarks.
  • During a Senate Banking Committee hearing exploring the reasons behind recent bank failures, I pressed federal regulators about their failure to address glaring warning signs at Silicon Valley Bank prior to its collapse. I also asked to exempt community banks in Wyoming from any new fees levied to cover the depositors at these failed banks. Click here to watch my remarks. 

Major Votes:

  • S. 316, Senator Tim Kaine’s bill to repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force (AUMF) against Iraq.
  • Supported
    • By repealing the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs, we officially mark the end of the Gulf and Iraq Wars and reassert Congress’ constitutional responsibility for declaring war while protecting the U.S. military’s ability to go after terrorists. 
  • H.J. Res 7, Representative Paul Gosar’s bill to end the federal government’s COVID-19 state of emergency.
  • Supported
    • The fact that there is still a federal state of emergency in place is lunacy, and blatant government overreach. Wyoming has led the way in defending freedom while keeping citizens safe. It is time for the federal government to follow suit. 
WORKING IN WYOMING

Media:

I joined the Big Money Show on Fox Business to discuss a recent admission by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland that the Biden administration’s Green New Deal inspired agenda is increasing America’s reliance on China. Rather than supporting China’s mining industry, President Biden needs to be working with miners in Wyoming. 

Watch the full interview here. 

Working for Wyoming:

Too often in times of crisis, government bureacrats and Democrats attempt to expand the size of government and levy new taxes and fees. Many of my more progressive colleagues are doing just that. Here we go again. As soon as the Biden administration announced it was bailing out wealthy depositers, I became concerned that Wyoming community banks would be forced to foot the bill in the form of new and higher fees.  
 
Asking community banks in Wyoming to foot the bill is unacceptable, and I have been vocal about my opposition to this plan. This week, I asked Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chairman of the Board Marty Gruenberg to exempt community banks in Wyoming from any new fees levied to cover the bailout. Community banks are essential to the Wyoming economy. It should never be the responsibility of the people of Wyoming to pay for the mistakes of banks that were not following the rules and regulators who were asleep at the wheel.  

News Around Wyoming:

The last couple of months have seen near-record amounts of snowfall in higher elevations across much of Wyoming. 
 
And what goes up, must come down.
 
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Wyoming High School Activities Association officials made state history last April when they announced that they had sanctioned girls wrestling. Last month, the WHSAA hosted the very first girls state wrestling championship.
 
For athletes such as Cheyenne Central junior Meadow King, who has been wrestling on her school’s boys team since the eighth grade, this meant that she would finally have the opportunity to compete.
 
This week's earthquake 'swarm' was 'very standard' Yellowstone stuff
Casper Star-Tribune 
Scientists have called a swarm of about 60 earthquakes under Yellowstone Lake on Tuesday and Wednesday “normal.” 
 
Bob Smith, the University of Utah geologist who wrote the book on Yellowstone National Park’s geology, and Michael Poland, the scientist in charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, said as much Wednesday afternoon.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WYOMING
The Department of Energy (DOE) has an open funding opportunity for Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA). The ERA program aims to improve the resilience, reliability and affordability of energy systems in communities nationwide with 10,000 or fewer people. The ERA program will be providing $300 million for projects that “increase energy affordability and promote climate resilience” and $15 million for “a prize competition to help rural communities build the capacity needed for clean energy development.”    
 
An initital application in the form of a ‘concept paper’ is due by April 14, 2023, and full applications are due by June 28, 2023.    
 
Since most of the towns in Wyoming are home to fewer than 10,000 people, there is a great deal of opportunity here. If you need more information about this or other grant opportunities, or have questions about applying for federal grants, please contact my Resource and Economic Development Manager/Grant Coordinator Kathy Lenz at [email protected].  
WYOMING SHOUT OUT
Rodeos are synonymous with the old west and remain an intricate part of our culture. They serve as a reminder of our shared cowboy tradition. Arvada native Kenny Clabaugh has been one the best pickup men on the rodeo circuit for years. This week he received long overdue recognition. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame announced that Kenny would be an inductee in the class of 2023. Kenny has been known for being quiet, unassuming and not seeking the spotlight, but his skill has spoke for itself and he has become known as one of the best in the business. Congratulations Kenny!
Photo by KBHB Radio 

OFFICE LOCATIONS

Cody
1285 Sheridan Avenue, Suite 215
Cody, WY 82414
Phone: 307-527-9444

Cheyenne
Federal Center
2120 Capitol Avenue, Suite 2007
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: 307-772-2477

Casper
Dick Cheney Federal Bldg.
100 East B Street, Suite 3201
PO Box 33201
Casper, WY 82601
Phone: 307-261-6572

Sundance
120 North 4th Street (769)
P.O. Box 769
Sundance, WY 82729
Phone: 307-283-3461

Star Valley
80 1st Street
Suite 105
P.O. Box 1630
Afton, WY 83110
Phone: 307-248-1736

Washington, DC
Russell Senate Office Building
Room SR 124
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3424

This message was intended for: [email protected]
You were added to the system June 16, 2021.
For more information click here. Update your preferences
Unsubscribe | Unsubscribe via email