| Let the People of Wyoming Manage our Land |
The designation and
management of public lands in Wyoming plays a far greater role than most inside the D.C. beltway realize. For decades, the people of Wyoming have
effectively lived off of and managed the land without the heavy hand of big government. Now, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is trying to implement a
plan that would designate 1.8 million acres of public lands, managed by the Rock Springs Field Office, as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. The
proposal ignores more than a decade’s worth of local input and would reduce the land to single use. If enforced, it could inevitably end
grazing, critical transmission line improvements and gas production that powers the region. Earlier this week, Senator John Barrasso and I sent a letter urging the BLM to withdraw the Rock Springs Draft Resource
Management Plan. While it did not go that far, the BLM did extend the current comment period on the draft plan for an additional 60
days. The
BLM extending the comment period for this proposal is an encouraging first step, but listening and working with local stakeholders is essential. I
encourage every Wyoming citizen impacted by this draft plan to voice their concerns. It is critical that the next 60 days are used to sit down and
speak with Wyoming ranchers, landowners and people most effected by the proposal. A one-size-fits-all decree from Washington is never the right
approach, especially when it comes to land management. I will continue working with Sen. Barrasso and Governor Mark Gordon to ensure the people of Wyoming’s
voices are heard before a final decision on this plan is made.
Happy Trails,
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Senator Lummis' Week in Pictures |
I had the honor of meeting Wyoming native and West Point Academic Board Dean Brigadier General Shane Reeves who
molds America's next generation of leaders. I am proud of Allie Letcher & Lynn Sweet of Arch Resources in Gillette for receiving the
Surface Mining Good Neighbor Award for their work in conservation. Allie and Lynn exemplify what so many
in D.C. fail to understand -- Wyoming miners play a critical role in land management.
I am proud to receive the Taxpayers’ Friend Award from the National Taxpayers Union.
I pride myself in treating every
dollar spent by the U.S. government like it came out of my pocket because I know it came from a hardworking taxpayer.
I met with mining leaders from Wyoming and
across the country to discuss the importance of unleashing domestic mining.
Critical
minerals play a vital role in America's national security. We cannot continue relying on hostile foreign nations
to provide critical minerals used to build items we rely on each day including cars, plastics and laundry detergent. |
| Legislative
Actions:
- I joined U.S. Senator Katie Britt
(R-AL) in sending a letter to the Biden administration requesting clarification regarding the administration’s
apparent decision to improperly elevate Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su into the presidential line of succession.
- President Biden needs to
put Julie Su up for a confirmation vote in the Senate instead of ignoring the Constitution.
- U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and I introduced
legislation preventing the Environmental Protection Agency
from finalizing a proposed rule that would effectively require more than two-thirds of all vehicles sold in the United States be fully electric in
less than nine years.
- The people of Wyoming should be able to choose what car they drive and not be punished for wanting to drive an American-made
gas-powered car.
Committee Hearings:
- During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
hearing, I questioned Susan Bodine, a water and land legal expert, about the negative impacts the Biden administration’s flawed interpretation
of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule has on Wyoming ranchers and land owners. Click here to watch.
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| Working for Wyoming:
With our country $33 trillion in debt, Congress should not spend a single dollar without first finding a way to pay for
it. That is why I joined Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) in writing to Senate leadership requesting that any federal assistance to Israel not be leveraged for
more funding for Ukraine. It has been reported
that President Biden has requested $100 billion to bundle aid to Ukraine and Israel. While it is critical that our nation support our allies, $100
billion in new spending cannot just be tacked on to our national debt. Looking out for Wyoming taxpayers remains my top priority in the Senate, and I
will continue fighting for fiscal sanity in Washington. News Around Wyoming:
Town Of Lusk, Wyoming, Steps Up For College Football Team When Bus Burns Up
Cowboy State
Daily
Perhaps adding insult to injury, the South Dakota School of Mines Football team made an unexpected layover in
Lusk, Wyoming, on Saturday night when one of its two buses caught fire on Highway 85 and the other had its heat go out. The Miners were on their way
back to Rapid City, South Dakota, after a blowout 45-22 loss to rival Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.
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GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WYOMING |
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Technical Assistance
(WaterTA) Program allows communities across Wyoming to request a no-cost evaluation of their drinking water, wastewater, stormwater infrastructure and
water quality improvement needs. WaterTA offers a wide range of services including identifying water infrastructure or water quality improvement
needs, planning for capital improvements, building technical, managerial capacity and preparing for and developing application materials for financing
a project. To learn more about WaterTA and how to apply click here.
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WYOMING SHOUT OUT |
Patrick Edwards promised his daughter he would take her
fishing earlier this year, but when he stepped out into the frigid April air, he paused to reconsider for a moment before deciding that he needed to
honor his word. Good thing he did. Despite ice covering patches of the Wind River near Riverton, he reeled in a world record white sucker
fish. Weighing in at 6 pounds, 8.4 ounces, the fish won the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) World Record. This week, Edwards received his
certificate from the IGFA certifying that he is the world record holder. Edwards’ story reminds me that there is nothing better than a little
father-daughter time.
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| Photo
courtesy of Cowboy State Daily |
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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
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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 127A
Washington, DC
20510
Phone: 202-224-3424 |
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