Standing Up for the
Jim Bridger Power Plant |
One of the largest coal-fired power plants in the United
States is under attack. The Jim Bridger Power Plant outside of Point of Rocks, WY has been providing Wyoming and the West with reliable energy for
nearly 50 years. It burns Wyoming coal, which is some of the cleanest burning coal in the world. It’s an essential part of our power grid. Its
operators have worked diligently with the State of Wyoming and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make sure they meet environmental
standards. In 2020, the EPA approved a plan to allow Jim Bridger to continue operating and its 302 employees to continue
working there. Unfortunately, President Biden’s EPA administrator, Michael Reagan, went back on that agreement and ordered costly modifications
to the plant. If it weren’t for quick thinking by Governor Mark Gordon, this would have resulted in a New Years’ Eve closure of this power
plant. Time and time again, the Biden administration has shown that it will be nothing but hostile to America’s
domestic energy industry and the Wyoming way of life. This is just another example. The Biden EPA’s decision here is needlessly hurting
Wyoming’s energy workers and threatening America’s energy independence as well. It is blatantly political, and that's why I took action
this week to block several of President Biden's nominees to serve in senior leadership positions at the EPA. Until the EPA is prepared to be a fair
and honest broker with the state of Wyoming on this issue, I will continue to block President Biden's EPA nominees.
Radical environmental
policies such as the ones suggested by the Biden administration will not effectively address the changing climate. They instead will continue to harm
Wyoming workers and families and force our energy needs into the hands of unstable and hostile nations. The United States has proven that we are
capable of energy independence. We should continue to rely on our domestic supply to fulfill our energy needs. I won’t stop fighting for
Wyoming’s energy workers and companies.
Happy Trails, |
- I spoke on the Senate Floor about the
partisan divide our country is facing and the importance of the filibuster to the legislative process. The filibuster forces bipartisanship and
eliminating it will cause irreversible, lasting damage to our country.
Legislative Actions:
- I cosponsored Senator Rubio’s COVID Act of 2021, which compels Beijing to allow a credible investigation into the true origins of COVID-19. If they do not
comply, then sanctions will be imposed and federal funding for research will be suspended.
- People in Wyoming deserve to know the truth about the origins of the COVID-19 virus. Our
tax dollars should not continue to fund institutions that withhold information about this virus.
- I cosponsored Senator Crapo’s Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2021. This bill would expand the programs that compensate individuals exposed
to radiation due to nuclear testing or uranium mining.
- This bill would aid uranium miners in Wyoming who have contracted certain
illnesses after working in uranium mines.
Committee Hearing:
Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
- Nominations Hearing on Jerome Powell to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and Lael Brainard to be Vice Chairman of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
- I questioned
these nominees about multiple priorities for the state of Wyoming, including banking regulations for community banks that lend to energy companies,
the status of the Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI) charter applications that Wyoming banks have submitted to the Fed, and financial
innovation efforts.
Major Votes:
- S.3436, Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Implementation Act.
- Supported
- This bill sanctions the Russian Nord Stream 2
pipeline and allows Congress to reinstate sanctions. If completed, this pipeline and Russian aggression threatens the long-standing defense of our
European allies.
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Media
- I joined Will
Silverstein on KLWY to discuss my legislative priorities for 2022.
- I talked with
Valeria Fugate on KGWN about the supply chain crisis that people across Wyoming are experiencing.
News Around
Wyoming:
E&E News Wyoming Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis has stalled confirmation of President Biden’s pick for EPA enforcement chief over concerns about
the agency’s handling of coal power plants in her state. Lummis also has placed holds on Biden’s remaining EPA picks, her office confirmed
to E&E News.
David
Uhlmann, Biden’s choice for EPA’s assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance, had been scheduled for a vote
Wednesday before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. But Chair Tom Carper (D-Del.) announced at the start of the markup that
Uhlmann’s nomination had been pulled from the agenda.
The Casper Star Tribune A
decision is in for unit 2 of the Jim Bridger Power Plant. And it’s not the news the state was hoping for.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Tuesday that it would propose disapproving Wyoming’s alternative pollution
control plan for the unit, which has been out of compliance with federal regulations since Dec. 31 and is operating under a four-month emergency
suspension signed by Gov. Mark Gordon. The suspension will end April 30. The Casper Star
Tribune Demand for COVID-19 vaccinations and testing
in Wyoming has risen dramatically with the arrival of the omicron variant, local health officials say.
In Natrona County, health department director Anna Kinder said that officials started seeing an uptick in people coming in
for testing on Monday, Jan. 3 — the first day back to work for many after the holidays. |
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| WYOMING SHOUT
OUT |
This month, it was announced that Wyoming radio legend Gene “Gabby” Barrus will be
inducted into the Wyoming Association Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Barrus got his start at KWYO and KROE in Sheridan before moving to KTWO in 1987.
Referred to as “the voice of high school sports in Wyoming,” Barrus was a mentor for many students and future broadcasters.
Congratulations on this spectacular achievement!
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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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Sheridan
P.O. Box 6677
Sheridan, WY 82801
Phone:
307-439-7783
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 124
Washington, DC 20510
Phone:
202-224-3424 |
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