The Second Amendment Could Not Be Clearer

During their tenure in office, the Biden-Harris administration has spearheaded several attacks against law-abiding citizens’ rights to keep and bear arms and has actively searched for ways to punish responsible gunowners and businesses across Wyoming.

With the administration’s support, Democrats have found ways to make gun ownership for law-abiding citizens and businesses more difficult on every level, even going as far as making it difficult for museums to possess historical weaponry for display purposes only. This attack has made it harder for Wyoming’s world-renowned museums to own or transport weapons to foreign countries.

The Second Amendment could not be clearer, and we have a responsibility to protect lawful and responsible gunowners from this administration’s gun-grabbing policies. Moreover, we also have a responsibility to preserve our past and prevent these important parts of our history from being lost, which is why I introduced the Lawful Purpose and Historical Firearms Act. This commonsense legislation not only protects the people of Wyoming’s right to keep and bear arms but preserves our nation’s firearms heritage by allowing museums and researchers to have access to a wide variety of weaponry to display for the public.

By eliminating most restrictions in federal firearms laws that require a “sporting purpose” and clearing roadblocks museums encounter when trying to acquire weapons for display purposes, we ensure integral parts of our history will not be lost.

This senseless attack on our Second Amendment rights is a blatant gun-grab and I will continue to fight for the people of Wyoming’s rights to keep and bear arms.

Happy Trails,

Senator Lummis' Week in Pictures

This weekend I traveled to Nashville for the Bitcoin 2024 conference and led a panel with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) where I highlighted how Wyoming is leading in Bitcoin mining in the U.S. and how we can ensure the Cowboy State remains at the forefront of financial innovation.

This summer, the Wyoming delegation has had an outstanding group of interns working in our Washington, D.C. offices to serve the Cowboy State. On Tuesday, I had the privilege of spending time with Senator Barrasso, Representative Hageman and my interns to thank them for their outstanding work this summer and hear about their experience in Washington.

This week, I welcomed former Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to the Capitol to speak with members of the Senate Western Caucus about the arduous permitting federal process.

Working for Wyoming

The most rural portions of Wyoming are often the areas of our state most in need of federal grants, yet far too often, these communities do not have the staff needed to sift through lengthy and complicated grant applications. I want to ensure the most underserved areas in our state have the ability to apply for the federal funding they need, which is why I partnered with Senator John Barrasso to introduce legislation to create short-form versions of these applications. We do not want lengthy and confusing applications to be a barrier for Wyoming communities, and our bill, the USDA GRANT Act will help streamline the application process. Click here for more.

Legislative Actions

For more than 240 years, the bald eagle has been an enduring symbol of freedom and American values, and now, I’m proud to announce, it is one step closer to officially being adopted as our national bird. This week, my bill with Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to designate the bald eagle as the national bird passed the Senate unanimously. It is past time that the bald eagle officially become our national bird, and I am excited we are this much closer to delivering this legislation to the president’s desk.
In recent years, there has been a considerable rise in incidents where ecoterrorists have sought to disrupt pipeline operations, resulting in delayed oil and gas deliveries and putting them at risk for spills. I partnered with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to introduce the Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act to protect the movement of American oil and gas by expanding the current criminal penalties for people who damage or destroy pipelines. We must send a clear message that this dangerous behavior will not be tolerated, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this commonsense solution across the finish line.

Grant Information

The Department of Commerce recently opened $1 billion to fund the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program to promote digital inclusion and deliver reliable connectivity to underserved communities. Funds may be used for various digital inclusion initiatives, such as broadband adoption programs, skills training, workforce development, access to necessary technology and public access computing centers. Grant awards will range from $5,000,000- $12,000,000 with exceptions requiring justifications. Partnerships are encouraged to apply for larger amounts.

Entities eligible to apply for the Competitive Grant Program, provided they have not administered a State Digital Equity Planning or Capacity Grant Program, include:

Political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities of a state, including those responsible for adult education, literacy activities or public housing.
Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities or Native Hawaiian organizations.
Not-for-profit foundations, corporations, institutions or associations that are not schools.
Community anchor institutions.
Local educational agencies.
Entities that conduct workforce development programs.
Partnerships between any of the entities listed above.

Applications are due September 23, 2024.

For more information, please click here.

Wyoming Shoutout

For more than 50 years, Bill Sniffin has played an integral role in delivering news across the Cowboy State and now, his decades-long career has earned him a well-deserved lifetime achievement award from the National Newspaper Association. Bill is only the second Wyoming newsman to ever win this prestigious award, a recognition he credits to grit and tenacity. Please join me in congratulating Bill on an outstanding career and deserved recognition.

Photo Courtesy of Cowboy State Daily