ConservAmerica Newsletter: Awards Dinner, Legislative Update, and More

ConservAmerica Updates

On Wednesday, we celebrated our first Annual Congressional Champion Awards Dinner. The awards were given to Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Cory Gardner of Colorado for their commitment to environmental protection and economic prosperity.

"The Congressional Champion Award is given to lawmakers who demonstrate a commitment to environmental and conservation policies that reflect the values and traditions we share as Americans, including a belief in personal freedom and individual responsibility, free markets and competition, private property rights, a love of the great outdoors and a desire to enhance and protect our lands and waters now and for future generations," ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer said. "Balancing these values requires recognition that a healthy environment and a strong economy are not mutually exclusive, but inextricably linked."

Legislation Updates

S.10 South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2019

This bill, sponsored by Sen. Rubio (R-FL), addresses harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the South Florida ecosystem. An algal bloom is a rapid growth of algae that may create toxic or hypoxic (severely low-oxygen) conditions that are harmful to humans, animals, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy.

This week it was ordered to be reported to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.2429 Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019

This bill, sponsored by Sen. Rubio (R-FL), reauthorizes the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and establishes the United States Coral Reef Task Force.

This week it was ordered to be reported to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.1982 Save Our Seas 2.0 Act

This bill, sponsored by Sen. Sullivan (R-AK), seeks to help reduce the creation of plastic waste, find uses for the plastic waste that already exists to keep it from entering the oceans, spur innovation, and tackle the problem on a global scale.

This week it passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and will be voted on by the full Senate.

What we’re reading this week

November 14

Dan Brouillette, nominee for Energy Secretary, gets warm reception in U.S. Senate hearing

Brouillette, a military veteran who got his start in politics working for then-Louisiana Congressman Billy Tauzin, has received Senate confirmation twice and his latest is expected to move through with little resistance.

New Trump Ocean Research Effort Includes Seeking Energy Sources

The Trump White House kicked off an effort Nov. 14 to explore and better understand the ocean that includes finding new sources of critical minerals and energy and identifying pharmaceutical compounds.

Deer Season Starts, Leading to Renewed Fears of Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic wasting disease – also known as zombie deer disease – is a contagious, always-fatal disease that infects deer, elk and other cervid species.

Clean Energy a Win for America's Armed Forces, Veterans

This year, approximately 200,000 men and women will transition from active service in America’s armed forces to civilian life. While our nation owes each of them a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay, we must remain vigilant in the pursuit of policies that advance the next phase of their career and enhance the prosperity and security of the nation they served to defend.

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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