<[link removed]> Congressional Outlook With the summer season and the mid-term elections approaching, the window for passing legislation during the 117th Congress is rapidly closing. In the environment and energy policy space, all eyes are on Joe Manchin and a bipartisan group of senators working to develop climate and clean energy legislation in the wake of Democrats' failed attempts to move the Build Back Better Act through the reconciliation process. But after weeks of talks that have been heavily influenced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the group appears no closer to introducing a compromise bill. But even as this effort appears stalled, ConservAmerica has been working in support of several bills poised to pass that could have a meaningful impact on the environment, conservation efforts, and the resiliency of our natural and built environment infrastructure. For example, the Growing Climate Solutions Act, legislation designed to help reduce barriers to carbon markets for farmers, ranchers, and other landowners, passed the Senate last June with strong bipartisan support, and companion legislation is currently being negotiated in the House. Similarly, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which directs resources to states to help keep plant and wildlife species off the endangered species list, is poised for floor action in both chambers. In addition, both chambers are actively working to pass biannual legislation authorizing critical construction and maintenance programs for our nation’s ports, inland waterways, and other infrastructure essential to our economic competitiveness, flood and coastal storm risk management, and ecosystem restoration. Known as the Water Resources Development Act, this year’s bill contains new and modified environmental infrastructure projects that enhance the resilience and sustainability of communities by helping mitigate coastal and inland flooding, restoring shorelines, and addressing the risks of extreme weather and the impact of drought. The House version of the bill also incorporates substantial provisions from the Northern Estuaries Restoration Plan Act, which would help restore the water quality of Florida’s Lake Okeechobee – an area that for years has been plagued by poor water quality and environmental degradation. Finally, the Senate is set to ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in another potential breakthrough for the environment. The Amendment would add the United States to a list of over 130 countries that have agreed to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), chemicals found in air conditioning and refrigeration and that are potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. While the measure’s provisions are being implemented through legislation passed in 2020, the support needed for passage – two-thirds of the Senate (or 67 votes) – represents significant progress and overwhelming bipartisan support for action to reduce emissions. May Highlights <[link removed]> Wyoming Launches Wildlife Migration Corridors In Partnership with Private Landowners <[link removed]> Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon recently announced a new partnership with federal land management agencies to support the voluntary creation of big game migration corridors on private working land. Gov. Gordon’s approach aligns with recommendations that ConservAmerica provided the Biden administration on its America the Beautiful <[link removed]> initiative, also known as 30x30. Among other items, we recommended <[link removed]> that conservation policies provide incentives for private landowners to participate. ConservAmerica supports Wyoming’s approach to designing and implementing wildlife migration strategies to conserve wildlife and protect migration corridors. We applaud Gov. Gordon and the Biden administration for taking a balanced, science-based approach to managing wildlife corridors that recognizes the importance of private landowners in creating sustainable solutions. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Urges Congress to Support DOE Efforts to Expand Competition in Electricity Markets <[link removed]> ConservAmerica joined a number of organizations committed to affordable clean energy in calling on Congress to fully fund the U.S. Department of Energy’s efforts to provide technical and financial assistance to states and regions to develop regional transmission organizations and independent system operators that will result in a clean, reliable, and resilient electricity grid. The organizations sent a letter to the members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees urging them to provide the full $19 million in funding the U.S. Department of Energy is requesting for fiscal year 2023 for its Wholesale Electricity Market Technical Assistance and Grants program. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> Roosevelt Conservation Caucus Members Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort To Support America's National Parks <[link removed]> Roosevelt Conservation Caucus members Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) recently introduced bipartisan legislation with Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) to increase funding that the National Park Foundation <[link removed]> can use to seek matching philanthropic dollars to support national parks. The National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act would renew federal funding for the Foundation through fiscal year 2030 and increase the authorization level from $5 million to $15 million. The Foundation can use the higher authorization level to match private donations to help finance crucial deferred maintenance, historic preservation, and other signature projects and programs like the Service Corps at national parks around the country. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Voices Support for H.R.7520 Northern Estuaries Restoration Plan Act <[link removed]> In May, ConservAmerica wrote <[link removed]> to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure expressing our support for including Rep. Mast's Northern Estuaries Restoration Plan Act (H.R.7520) in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. We are pleased that the committee incorporated that important provision in the bill. In our letter, we commented that “helping to reform, strengthen, and improve our ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other water resources infrastructure ranks among our highest priorities. WRDA plays a critical role in these efforts, supporting local, regional, and national projects that protect natural resources and communities, as well as creating jobs and enhancing competitiveness. In this regard, we urge you to include H.R 7520 the Northern Estuaries Restoration Plan (NERP) Act in the underlying bill.” Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> The climate solution that can also restore our seas <[link removed]> ConservAmerica General Counsel Brent Fewell wrote in The Hill <[link removed]> about the great opportunities for ocean pasture restoration (OPR). OPR presents the opportunity of our lifetime to address climate change without bankrupting the U.S. economy and will give the U.S. time to transition to new cleaner sources of fuel in a more sensible timeframe and in a cost-effective manner. Congress would be wise to consider legislation to support OPR. More fish in our ocean pastures and less carbon in the atmosphere would be a win-win for the environment and an increasingly hungry world. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> Fewer gas pipelines will mean higher carbon emissions and more Russian threats <[link removed]> ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer wrote <[link removed]> in the Washington Examiner about the need to eliminate ineffective Band-Aid solutions to complex energy and climate issues. “Band-Aid approaches aren’t going to secure our energy future. Nor should discussions about setting the right course fall along party lines. Instead, policymakers must consider real, long-term solutions to address our energy needs. That means not just taking advantage of vast U.S. energy supplies, but building the necessary infrastructure that will allow us to reduce prices, address climate change, and increase energy security around the world,” said Kupfer. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Applauds EPW Passage of WRDA <[link removed]> The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously voted May 4th to move the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 out of committee for consideration by the full Senate. “ConservAmerica praises the members of the committee for passing the Water Resources Development Act on a bipartisan basis, and we encourage the full Senate to commit floor time to take up and pass the legislation quickly,” ConservAmerica Vice President of Policy Todd Johnston said. Read More <[link removed]> Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation. With your help, we can continue to provide leadership on environmental and conservation issues based on the principles of respect for free markets, property rights, and personal responsibility. Donate <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington DC, United States Unsubscribe <[link removed]>