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Happy Autumn!

Welcome to ConservAmerica’s newsletter. October is the start of fall, which brings apple cider, boots, and pumpkin flavored everything. It also brought staff changes, international reports, and President Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday.

ConservAmerica Updates

We have a new President, and more new staff! Welcome our new president: Jeff Kupfer.

During the George W. Bush administration, Kupfer helped lead the Department of Energy, serving as deputy secretary and chief operating officer, as well as the chief of staff.

“Jeff’s long career in public service and deep knowledge of energy policy are great assets to ConservAmerica and our mission of supporting innovative solutions to our energy and environmental challenges,” said ConservAmerica Chairwoman Nan Hayworth.

Read his bio here

Legislation Updates

October has been quite the month for both houses of Congress.

S.J.Res. 53: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Repeal of the Clean Power Plan; Emission Guidelines for Green New Deal” Oct 16, 2019

Failed Senate: Last Action: Failed of passage in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 41 - 53.

H.R. 335: South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2019 Oct 14, 2019

This bill passed out of the House and was referred to the Senate

S. 163: Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act Oct 3, 2019

This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on October 4, 2019.

What we’re reading this week

October 25

The offshore wind industry will expand to over a trillion dollars in the next two decades

Offshore wind power will expand impressively over the next two decades, boosting efforts to de-carbonize energy systems and reduce air pollution as it becomes a growing part of electricity supply, according to an International Energy Agency report

Supreme Court won’t stall case against oil companies

State court cases targeting oil companies for their role in climate change are set to move forward after the Supreme Court on October 22 rebuffed the industry’s efforts to halt them.

Energy Secretary Rick Perry announced he will resign

During his tenure, Perry pushed to make nuclear power safe and effective. President Donald Trump said he will nominate Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette to replace him.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Economic Report for Fiscal Year 2018 was released

The report highlights Interior activities covering conventional and renewable energy, recreation, non-fuel minerals, irrigation, and conservation that resulted in $315 billion in economic output and supported 1.8 million jobs during the year –- up from $254 billion in economic output and 1.6 million jobs in 2016.

October 3

First Lady Melania Trump visited Grand Teton National Park

The First Lady visited Wyoming with the Boy Scouts as part of her Be Best initiative, to encourage fourth graders to get their free year-long parks pass.

Congress designated October 2 as Energy Efficiency Day

The national day is meant to equip Americans with tips and tricks to reduce their daily energy consumption.

Long read of the month:

October 27 was President Theodore Roosevelt’s 161st birthday. No matter how cool you are, you’ll never be as cool as Theodore Roosevelt continuing his speech after having been shot with the only reference to the bullet being, “It takes more than that to kill a bull moose … I give you my word, I do not care a rap about being shot; not a rap.” And then he finished his 90-minute speech. What a badass. Here’s a great read (or listen) about how he became such a badass.

Read (or listen) at Mental Floss

We’d love to hear from you!

ConservAmerica is a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 as a home for conservatives who believe in the value of protecting the environment and conserving America’s public lands for future generations. Our mission is to educate the public and policymakers about the value of conservation and to advance constructive approaches to today’s environmental, energy, and conservation challenges that protect private property and economic growth.

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