<[link removed]> It’s almost Halloween and the spookiest thing around D.C. is the ever-lingering threat of a government shutdown. Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has quickly gotten to work on a short-term funding bill to bridge <[link removed]> the gap until a long-term solution can be agreed upon. The consequences of a government shutdown are far-reaching, so we look forward to seeing our elected officials come together for the good of the American people. This past summer was full of fright as much of the western U.S., Canada, and Hawaii battled life-threatening wildfires. Catastrophic wildfires not only have widespread public health and environmental impacts but cost hundreds of billions of dollars annually. If you have not already registered <[link removed]> , please join <[link removed]> ConservAmerica, the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), and our expert panel tomorrow for a webinar <[link removed]> on Strategies for Effective Wildfire Management. This month, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing looking at the Administration’s scary five-year plan for offshore drilling, which proposes to hold the fewest offshore oil drilling leases in US history. The largest <[link removed]> source of conservation funding in the U.S. comes straight from offshore oil and gas leasing, meaning the decision to offer the minimum number of lease sales legally possible will strip millions from programs like the Land Water Conservation Fund <[link removed]> (LWCF). The LWCF is responsible for significant funding and support of America’s national parks, wildlife refuges, etc, including Katmai <[link removed]> National Park, home of the Fat Bears <[link removed]> ! Our heartiest congratulations to this year’s winner of Fat Bear Week, Grazer <[link removed]> . Looking good buddy! Fat Bear Week may be over, but just in time for Halloween, it’s Bat Week <[link removed]> ! Bats <[link removed]> are super cool creatures vital to our ecosystem's health. And on that note, we’ll wrap it up and wish you all a safe <[link removed]> and Happy Halloween. Until next time! PS – Our annual Roosevelt Reception <[link removed]> , honoring Congressional Roosevelt Conservation Caucus members Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), and Rep. John Curtis (R-UT), is happening November 14. If you, or your organization, has an interest in sponsoring or attending, please contact Todd Johnston at [email protected]. October Highlights <[link removed]> Upcoming Webinar: Strategies for Effective Wildfire Management <[link removed]> Join ConservAmerica in partnership with PERC on Tuesday, October 31 at 12:30pm for a discussion with: Hannah Downey, Policy Director, PERC; Patrick Brown, Co-Director for Climate and Energy, Breakthrough Institute; Todd Myers, Director of Center for the Environment, Washington Policy Center; and Chris Villarreal, Associate Fellow, Energy & Environment, R Street. We will also hear messages from Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO). Click <[link removed]> here to register <[link removed]> for this webinar. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> Commentary: America's Biodiversity Needs Smart Laws and Private-Sector Collaboration <[link removed]> The following OpEd by ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer appears in Newsweek <[link removed]> The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, and the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, brought more and more attention toward the real work of rebuilding America for a better, more resilient future. And as people confront the reality of gathering approvals and navigating increased bureaucracy and red tape, they realize that there are very significant, unacceptable delays. Many of our environmental laws, such as the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), while adopted with the best of intentions, are outdated, and contributing to the delays, cancellations, and disinvestment in our nation's infrastructure, natural resources, and wildlife diversity. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Statement on Offshore Hearing <[link removed]> ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer released the following statement regarding the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee’s hearing examining the administration's plan to hold just three offshore oil and gas lease sales in the next five years: “No one is talking about the adverse conservation impacts of the Biden Administration’s historically small offshore leasing plan. The largest source of conservation funding in the U.S. comes straight from offshore oil and gas leasing… Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Pleased By White House Announcement on Marine CDR Committee <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Senior Counsel Brent Fewell released the following statement following a White House announcement on potential ways we can harness the ocean to mitigate climate change: “ConservAmerica applauds the White House announcement <[link removed]> on the creation of the Fast-Track Action Committee on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). As the National Academy of Sciences concluded in 2022, marine CDR presents the best opportunity to scale the solution needed to mitigate the environmental impacts of rising carbon dioxide levels… 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]>