The Biden-Harris administration has a long and well-documented history of mucking up our nation's permitting process with unncessary red tape by awarding unelected D.C. bureaucrats unchecked authority over Wyoming infrastructure and energy projects, forcing business owners and communities across the Cowboy State to be at the mercy of their liberal and out-of-touch policies. 

If we want to get serious about addressing widespread infrastructure concerns and empowering our domestic energy industry, we need to establish a clear and transparent permitting process that delivers timely decisions based on objective criteria instead of a moving target subject to the whims of left-wing bureaucrats. 

The troubling reality is many of those tasked with determining the fate of Wyoming energy and infrastructure projects have never even set foot in Wyoming, let alone understand what is best for our industries. Since President Biden took office, his staff has painstakingly increased the federal government's power by issuing a slew of sweeping executive orders chock full of ambigious language that ultimately allow these unelected federal employees to serve as the judge, jury and executioner for federal permits-- and there is no recourse to hold them accountable if they get it wrong. 

Permits should be awarded based off of merit, not politics, and I have partnered with Senator Ted Budd to create a transparent and fair permitting process by introducing the Full Responsibility and Expedited Enforcement (FREE) Act. By creating a clear "permit by rule" system with goals for applicants to meet, we can drastically reduce the approval process and finally address the growing backlog of applicants patiently awaiting their permits. 

Our arduous permitting process continues to limit Wyoming's economic potential, and we need to take decisive and corrective action to address this chronic issue. This bill is the latest in a series of legislative actions I have taken to fight for Wyoming's vast energy industry, and I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to put this administration's runaway bureaucrats back in check. 

Happy Trails,

Cheyenne Frontier Days is one of the events I look the most forward to all year, and this year did not disappoint. I kicked off last weekend with the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce’s annual Partners ‘N’ Prosperity event. I appreciated the opportunity to thank the countless volunteers and organizers for their tireless efforts to make this year’s event such a success.

I had a great time riding in the CFD parade and I especially enjoyed visiting with rodeo queens from around the country. 

Before heading off to Washington to begin a busy week in the Senate, I had the pleasure of meeting Mo Brings Plenty to discuss our shared passion for preserving the west's vast heritage and how we can better support Wyoming's tribes. 

I also loved getting to see my good friend Shirley Churchill at the Old West Museum Art Show and celebrate wonderful western artists like Melanie Fabrizius who created this beautiful piece in memory of Lane Frost. 

Ensuring the people of Wyoming have access to health care is one of my top priorities, and I have proudly supported bipartisan initiatives that put rural patients first. This week, I was honored to be presented with the Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award by Maria Ghazal, President and CEO of the Healthcare Leadership Council. Promoting scientific advancements in medicine is essential to providing patients with high quality care, and I will continue to support legislation that bolsters medical innovation and advances access to reliable health care across Wyoming. 

I love visiting with young people from across Wyoming, and this week I had the privilege of welcoming Deanna from Cheyenne and Casey from Glenrock who were in Washington with the American Legion Girls and Boys Nation to my office. This program focuses on sending young leaders to our nation's capital to get a hands-on experience as they learn about the function of the federal government. 

• This administration is quite fond of rushing to implement blanket one-size-fits-all regulations without considering the consequences, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) latest rule proposal to replace the existing "Fire Brigades Standard" is no exception. This week, I led my Senate Western Caucus colleagues in expressing concern for how this rule change could impact wildfire response times. 
• The Biden-Harris administration continues to force its unsustainable and unrealistic electric vehicle mandate down the people of Wyoming's throats. The administration's latest attack on consumer choice punishes owners of gas-powered vehicles in a desperate attempt to force the people of Wyoming to avoid paying fines and instead purchase expensive EVs that are ill-equipped to handle Wyoming's harsh terrain at a time when the cost of living has reached record highs. I am partnering with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to protect the people of Wyoming's freedom to choose what kind of vehicle they drive by using the Congressional Review Act to invalidate the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's new fuel economy rule that punishes people with gas-powered vehicles. 

The Department of Energy recently announced it will be providing grants to 37 small and medium-sized manufacturers for implementing recommendations from the DOE Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) and Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership (CHP TAP) assessments conducted since 2018, as well as equivalent assessments since 2021. These grants focus on enhancing energy and material efficiency, increasing productivity and reducing emissions. This round of grants will be supported by $7.3 million. Eligible manufacturers can receive a maximum of $300,000 of funding per grant, though multiple grants per quarter are allowed. Applications must be submitted before October 1, 2024.

For more information and to apply, please click here.

For decades, Torrington Livestock Markets have served not only Goshen County but helped feed families across the nation thanks to the hard work of Shawn and Lex Madden. The Madden brothers were nominated to be inducted into the Cattle Marketing Hall of Fame next month, and I hope you'll join me in congratulating them on receiving this well-deserved recognition. 

Photo of Shawn (left) and Lex (right) Madden of Torrington Livestock Market courtesy of the Torrington Telegram