| Carrying on a Legacy of Selfless Service in Wyoming |
This week, the Senate passed legislation I
introduced to reauthorize the Congressional Award Program. The Congressional Award’s roots run deep in Wyoming, and I am thrilled the
Senate passed my legislation to reauthorize this fantastic
program and allow it to continue building upon its legacy of selfless service. The results of the last 40 years speak for themselves, and I am sure
the program’s impact will only grow in the future. When
Wyoming’s own late Senator Malcolm Wallop created the Congressional Award in 1979, I am not sure even he realized just how impactful the program
would be. The program encourages young Americans to unleash their potential by achieving personal goals focused on volunteerism, character,
development and fitness. Since its inception, the
Congressional Award, which is funded entirely through private-sector donations instead of using tax dollars, has become the highest honor for our
nation’s youth ages 14 to 23 and led to more than 8.1 million hours of service contributed to bettering communities across the
country.
Since the launch of the Wyoming Congressional Award Council in 1983, young
folks in Wyoming have earned 437 gold medals, 611 silver medals and 1,025 bronze medals – a total of 2,073 Congressional Awards. Wyoming’s
Congressional Delegation have long been champions of the program both here in Wyoming and back in Washington. The late Senator Mike Enzi and his wife
Diana were incredible champions of the program for many years. I am proud to serve on the Board of Directors for this program, Congress’ only
authorized charity.
Representing Wyoming in the U.S. Senate is the honor of a
lifetime and creates many incredible opportunities. One of my favorite things I have the privilege of taking part in is the annual Congressional Award
Gold Medal Ceremony in the U.S. Capitol where young people from Wyoming and across the country are awarded their medal. It is heart-warming to watch
the next generation of leaders form before your eyes. The results of the last 40 years
speak for themselves, and I am sure the program’s impact will continue to grow in the future. Happy Trails, |
Senator Lummis' Week in Pictures | I had a great time speaking at
the Native CDFI Networks’ fourth annual Policy and Capacity Building Summit about the vital role Native Community Development Financial
Institutions (CFDI) play in Wyoming to help native communities access financial services.
The Wind River Development Fund recently announced it was awarded a $300,000 grant from
the Native American Agriculture Fund which will provide lending capital for native farmers and ranchers, funds for a Native Ag Resource Day on the
reservation and initial funding to start the Wind River Development Fund Scholarship Program for Wyoming native youth seeking a college-level
education in agriculture. |
| Legislative Actions:
- I joined U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) in sending a letter to U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric requesting the CPSC revoke the proposed rule creating additional safety regulations
for off-road vehicles despite the fact the CPSC’s own study found there was no need for additional regulations.
- The last thing hardworking Wyoming
ranchers need is another cost increase from Washington. This rule would create unnecessary red tape and raise the cost of vehicles that ranchers use
every day.
Committee Hearings:
- I spoke with leaders of the nation’s largest banks in
the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing about the impacts of Basel III Endgame and pushed back on this
administration’s prosperity-killing agenda and the impact it will have on Wyoming. Basel III Endgame is a proposal by the Federal Reserve, the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that would require the largest US banks to hold
significantly higher amounts of capital. These costs will ultimately be borne by consumers and Wyoming’s small businesses that will see even
higher borrowing costs at a time of already high rates.
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| Working for Wyoming: People in Wyoming have had the power to choose what car they drive since Henry Ford invented the automobile, but President
Biden is trying to change that. His radical electric vehicle (EV) mandate will require 67.5% of all vehicles sold to be EVs by 2032 which is a
dramatic shift from last year where EVs made up just 6% of all cars and trucks sold.
President Biden’s EV mandate is everything wrong with big government and shows the danger in putting the
cart before the horse. In addition to being too expensive for many hardworking people, EVs have been plagued by reliability issues that make them
ill-suited for the vast and harsh terrain that most people in Wyoming have to navigate every day.
I joined several of my Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Minority
Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) demanding we pass legislation to defund the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s ability to enforce the EV
mandate in order to protect the people of Wyoming’s freedom to choose what car they drive.
News Around Wyoming: Casper
Star-Tribune For the second
year in a row, three in-state cowboys qualified for the season-ending rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center. |
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GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WYOMING |
As we approach winter, driving through Wyoming becomes a little tougher due to ice, snow and high winds. The Wyoming
Department of Transportation (WYDOT) and local agencies work hard to keep the roads as drivable as possible but as we all know -- our roads, bridges
and highways could always use some TLC. The U.S. Department of
Transportation announced this week $1.5 billion in funding for the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant
program. The program creates funding for state, tribal, territory, local governments, public agencies, special purpose governments and transit
agencies to improve infrastructure. To learn more and find out which
projects are eligible, click here. |
| WYOMING SHOUT
OUT |
My team had the honor of attending Goshen County firefighter Bill Law's retirement ceremony this week.
For the past 60 years, Bill bravely charged into thick smoke and answered the call to defend
Wyoming communities. He has done it all, from fighting fires on the front lines to serving as the Goshen County Fire Warden.
Thank you for keeping us safe all these years Bill, enjoy some well-deserved relaxation in
retirement!
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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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