<[link removed]> Congress has left the building! August recess has officially begun, and the halls of Congress have emptied. It’s that time of year when Members go back to their districts for an extended work period, staffers breathe a sigh of relief, and Washington, DC becomes a ghost town. Want to know why they break in August every year? Roll Call <[link removed].> has the history and spoiler alert, it’s not because of the heat. Last year, right before Congress broke for August recess, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) had struck a deal with Democrat leadership to take up permitting reform <[link removed]> in exchange for supporting the Inflation Reduction Act. By early fall, he had pulled his highly anticipated permitting reform proposal, which had been attached to a temporary funding bill known as a Continuing Resolution, off the table to avoid the threat of a government shutdown. Manchin continued to push for reform in the 117th Congress, but during an election year, it was too hard to get it across the finish line. Fast forward a year, almost to the day, and Manchin’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee conducted a full committee hearing last week providing a forum for a panel of experts to discuss commonsense reforms that would make our country more secure and competitive. To watch the video replay of the hearing, click here <[link removed]> , and to read our statement on it, click here <[link removed]> . The Committee also held a hearing on reform this past May; you can read the letter we sent prior to the hearing here <[link removed]> . At ConservAmerica, we remain encouraged that reform is still moving forward, and applaud Chairman Manchin, Ranking Member Barrasso, and the rest of the committee for their dedication to addressing this issue. We want to take a moment to remind our readers that we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on the generous support of donors like you. With your help, we can continue to provide leadership on environmental and conservation issues based on the principles of respect for free markets, property rights, and personal responsibility. If you support the work we do, please consider making a one-time or recurring monthly donation. You can click here <[link removed]> to donate. We hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer so far. While we always prioritize outdoor time, we know that in some parts of the country, heat waves can make it difficult, especially if you’re caught unprepared. As a precaution before heading outside, you can check out these heat safety tips <[link removed]> from the National Weather Service or these tips <[link removed]> from the National Park Service. Looking for a way to enjoy outdoor fun? Check out this page <[link removed]> from the National Park Service to help you plan your weekend adventure, and don’t forget to tag us on Facebook (@ConservAmerica) with your great outdoor fun photos! That’s it from us, for now. Enjoy, stay safe, and we’ll see you next month! July Highlights <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Encouraged to See Permitting Reform Moving Forward <[link removed]> ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer released the following statement, in connection with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources’ Full Committee Hearing to Examine Opportunities for Congress to Reform the Process for Permitting Electric Transmission Lines, Pipelines, and Energy Production on Federal Lands: “We are encouraged to see permitting reform moving forward with today’s hearing. Our country is in desperate need of meaningful legislation that will modernize our permitting system. While Congress has taken some steps, our existing permitting and regulatory approval processes are still sidelining resources, stopping projects, and limiting the benefits of policies intended to be transformative. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> SmarterSafer Coalition Submits Letter to FEMA <[link removed]> SmarterSafer - Americans for Smart Natural Catastrophe Policy <[link removed]> <[link removed]> - submitted a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency urging them to move forward expeditiously with developing regulations to update the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) minimum floodplain management standards. ConservAmerica is a member of the SmarterSafer coalition. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> Commentary: By not updating offshore leasing plan, Biden undercuts conservation projects <[link removed]> The following OpEd by U.S. Congressman and Roosevelt Conservation Caucus co-chair Buddy Carter and President of ConservAmerica, Jeff Kupfer, appeared in the Savannah Morning News. <[link removed]> When most Americans think of offshore oil and gas leasing, they think of Gulf of Mexico states such as Louisiana and Texas. But this industry has another face, one that is much closer to home for a lot of Americans: your community park. A federal program known as the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has channeled revenues from offshore oil and gas leasing to conservation projects nationwide, including national and state parks, historical sites, playgrounds, and recreational centers. The idea is simple: use revenues from the depletion of one natural resource - offshore oil and gas - to support the conservation of another precious resource - our land and water. Every year, $900 million in royalties paid by energy companies drilling for oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf are put into this fund, and its impacts are seen from coast to coast. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Submits Comments to BLM on Proposed Conservation Rule <[link removed]> ConservAmerica submitted comments to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on a proposal to amend regulations implementing the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 by making conservation a use “on par” with other uses of public lands under FLPMA's multiple-use framework. ConservAmerica ranks efforts to restore and protect public lands among our highest priorities; however, the lands managed by BLM were intended by Congress as a natural resource to help provide the agriculture, livestock, forestry, and energy and mineral resources needed to drive our nation’s economy. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Participates in Aspen Institute’s Roundtable Series on a "Critical Minerals Policy for the United States.” <[link removed]> Over the last year and a half, the Aspen Institute’s Energy & Environment program has been holding a high-level roundtable series aimed at developing a consensus statement of a “Critical Minerals Policy for the United States.” <[link removed]> As a top issue for ConservAmerica, which has only increased in importance with the implementation of the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, we were pleased to participate and provide our insight and recommendations. Read More <[link removed]> Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation. With your help, we can continue to provide leadership on environmental and conservation issues based on the principles of respect for free markets, property rights, and personal responsibility. Donate <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> Follow us! ConservAmerica, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington DC, United States Unsubscribe <[link removed]>