<[link removed]> Taku Lake in Anchorage, Alaska Congress is back from recess, and with a government shutdown looming, the urgency to find common ground is critical. Should Congress fail to pass legislation to renew funding before the clock strikes midnight on September 30, the government will shut down, bringing many operations and essential services to a screeching halt. With two months still left in hurricane season, one of the many essential programs we are concerned about is the National Flood Insurance Program. As part of the SmarterSafer coalition, we signed a letter <[link removed]> to House and Senate leadership this past week urging them not to let it lapse in the impending shutdown. Politico covered it here. <[link removed]> It was announced <[link removed]> this morning that National Parks will shut down along with the government, which is not what anyone wants to hear, but it’s a losing proposition either way. Per the Washington Post <[link removed]> , “past shutdowns have inflicted extensive damage on parks and surrounding communities, regardless of whether the sites were shuttered, underscoring the consequences of these political impasses.” Also coming out of DOI this morning was the five-year plan for offshore drilling in federal waters. The Administration’s plan proposes to hold the fewest offshore oil drilling leases in US history. A critical point often overlooked in the offshore energy discussion is the fact these leases funnel billions of dollars to important conservation programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund. You can read more about that here <[link removed]> . In more positive policy news, this week marked the 7th annual Clean Energy Week, a week-long event aimed at celebrating and raising awareness about clean energy technologies and their importance in mitigating climate change. Encouraging an efficient transition to cleaner energy policy is important, and to that end we work closely with the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus <[link removed]> in prioritizing <[link removed]> policies that update <[link removed]> our antiquated regulatory policies and encourage investment in clean energy and other resources. The energy transition requires a secure supply of critical minerals; last year we proposed a three-part framework to address this issue, which you can read here <[link removed]> . And in case you missed it, we did a webinar on a National Clean Energy standard a while back, which you can rewatch here <[link removed]> . Back to Capitol Hill, we’ll be watching Congress closely through the weekend. The consequences of a government shutdown are far-reaching, affecting not only government employees but critical programs and the overall economy. We hope that our elected officials can put aside their desire to score political points, recognize that we have a divided government, and focus on the good of the nation as they work through a funding bill. September Highlights <[link removed]> SmarterSafer Urges Congress Not To Let NFIP Lapse <[link removed]> SmarterSafer - Americans for Smart Natural Catastrophe Policy <[link removed]> sent a letter to U.S. House and Senate leadership recently urging Congress not to let the National Flood Insurance Program lapse as as a government shutdown looms. ConservAmerica is a member of the SmarterSafer coalition. The letter received coverage in Politico <[link removed]> , a DC-based paper covering politics and policy. Per the article: SmarterSafer, a coalition focused on natural disaster policy that includes housing, insurance and environmental groups, warned Hill leaders in a letter Tuesday that an NFIP lapse would have dire consequences. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> SmarterSafer Sends Letter to Senate Banking Committee <[link removed]> SmarterSafer - Americans for Smart Natural Catastrophe Policy <[link removed]> <[link removed]> - submitted a letter to the Senate Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown and Ranking Member Tim Scott commenting on the Senate Banking Committee’s recent hearing focused on property and casualty insurance markets and policyholders. ConservAmerica is a member of the SmarterSafer coalition. In a recent hearing, Members suggested that a federal reinsurance program is needed to mitigate natural disaster risk. Click below to read the letter. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Releases Statement on Court Cases Aimed at Auto Emissions <[link removed]> ConservAmerica General Counsel Brent Fewell released a statement earlier this month in regard to cases being heard in the D.C. Circuit aimed at auto emissions: “This week, the D.C. Circuit is hearing oral arguments in three important cases dealing with this Administration’s unlawful and erroneous interpretation of existing law to advance mandates for electric vehicles. 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]>