<[link removed]> Autumn has officially arrived. Congress has returned to Capitol Hill but will just as quickly depart as Election Day draws near. As of the drafting of this newsletter, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has pulled his highly anticipated permitting reform proposal off the table to avoid the threat of a government shutdown. The temporary funding bill known as a continuing resolution (CR) that Manchin was trying to attach permitting reform to must pass by September 30 to avoid a shutdown, but members of both parties were unhappy with the deal. A government shutdown just as voters are heading to the polls for an election that will decide which party controls both chambers of Congress is never a good look. We at ConservAmerica were disappointed Tuesday when we heard that Manchin’s proposal had been scuttled. Permitting reform is a priority for us and many other conservation organizations. The issue should be a priority for every American. The United States currently has some of the world's highest construction costs for infrastructure projects due mainly to its regulatory review and approval processes. We remain optimistic that the Senate will make reforming the federal permitting process a priority in the 118th Congress regardless of which party controls the chamber. If you missed our original blog post on Manchin’s permitting reform, you can catch up here <[link removed]> . In better news, Roosevelt Conservation Caucus members Rep. David McKinley and Rep. Buddy Carter have introduced the Ocean Restoration Research and Development Act, a bill that could lead to major advances in carbon sequestration and restoration of fisheries. Earlier this year, we conducted a webinar on this issue, which you can view here <[link removed]> . Furthermore, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on S. 3571, the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2022 (Good Sam), this week. Good Sam would limit liability provisions under the Clean Water Act that have hampered cleanup efforts by conservation and other Good Samaritan organizations. We submitted a letter of support for the record, which you can read here, <[link removed]> and in case you missed it, you can read our Op-Ed on Good Sam here <[link removed]> . Learn more about removing barriers to cleaning up abandoned mines by watching our webinar here <[link removed]> . And now it’s time for the fun stuff. Fall might mean cooler weather and shorter days, but it also brings great opportunities for hiking, fishing, hunting, and a whole host of other outdoor activities. We’d love to see what you all are up to, so when you post your photos to Facebook, be sure to tag us (@conservamerica), and we can share them. Looking for more resources on recreation opportunities near you? The Fish and Wildlife Service has some great information on its site to help you figure out all the details on where to hunt <[link removed]> , fish <[link removed]> , camp <[link removed]> , and hike <[link removed]> . And with that, we’re closing the office for the day and heading outside. Enjoy the cooler weather and changing leaves, be safe, and have fun! Until next time. September Highlights <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Welcomes Introduction of Ocean Restoration Legislation <[link removed]> Washington, DC – ConservAmerica Vice President of Policy Todd Johnston released the following statement upon the introduction of H.R. 9027, The Ocean Restoration Research and Development Act of 2022 by Congressman David McKinley (R-WV), Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA), and Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA): “The introduction of this bipartisan bill has been a long time coming, and we couldn’t be more pleased to see the efforts of so many come to fruition. Ocean restoration provides a unique opportunity to sequester tens of millions of tons of blue carbon while simultaneously helping restore fisheries; this initiative could be a game changer when it comes to our efforts to address climate change and improve the health of our oceans. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Joins Coalition in Support of Recycling Refund Program <[link removed]> ConservAmerica has joined a coalition of supporters in favor of Recycling Refund programs. Recycling refunds, also known as beverage container redemption programs, deposit return systems, and “bottle bills,” are programs that place a fully refundable deposit (such as 5-10 cents) on beverage containers made from different materials like aluminum, glass, plastics, and others. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> SmarterSafer Coalition Submits Letter to House Financial Services Committee <[link removed]> SmarterSafer - Americans for Smart Natural Catastrophe Policy <[link removed]> - submitted a letter <[link removed]> to the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance in advance of their hearing to examine the risk wildfire poses to communities, taxpayers, and insurance markets. ConservAmerica is a member of the SmarterSafer coalition. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica: Today’s Ratification of the Kigali Amendment Has Been a Long Time Coming <[link removed]> Washington, DC – ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer released the following statement on the U.S Senate’s ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol: “The overwhelming support for today’s passage is a significant step in reducing emissions. It proves not only that bipartisan agreement is possible on environmental issues, but also that industry and environmental groups can coalesce in support of climate solutions. Environmental protection and economic growth are not mutually exclusive… Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> Commentary: Volunteers want to clean pollution caused by mines. A legal landmine stands in the way. <[link removed]> The following op-ed by ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer, Trout Unlimited CEO Chris Wood, and National Wildlife Federation CEO Collin O'Mara originally appeared in AZ Central <[link removed]> and in the Arizona Republic. <[link removed]> The raw materials extracted by America’s mine workers over the past two centuries across the West helped build our country. But mines developed before technological advancements and environmental safeguards were in place caused great damage to our lands and waterways. Even today, abandoned sites like these release toxic brews of zinc, arsenic, cadmium and lead into streams and threaten the health of local communities. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> Senator Manchin Pushes Permitting Reform <[link removed]> Congress is making its way back to Washington, DC, for the final push before the mid-term elections, when attention will shift away from legislating to the campaign trail. Just before the August recess, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) struck a deal with Democrat leadership to take up permitting reform in exchange for supporting the Inflation Reduction Act under the budget reconciliation process. That deal was crucial to winning Manchin’s support for Joe Biden’s biggest policy win of his presidency, which included $369 billion in climate spending. And while Democrat leadership has promised to help Manchin pass some form of permitting reform, individual members are less enthused. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> Federal Land Managers Belong Out West <[link removed]> Washington, DC - ConservAmerica Vice President of Policy Todd Johnston released the following statement in response to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) announcement that it will move its headquarters back to Washington, DC: “The relocation decision by the BLM is both disappointing and illogical. If one thing is clear, the Washington-knows-best approach to the management of federal lands doesn’t work. Over 90% of the 245 million acres of land managed by the BLM, and the vast majority of agency employees are located in the western states (including Alaska). Read More <[link removed]> Parting Shot As is our custom here at the ConservAmerica newsletter, we’ll leave you with a parting shot from our adventures. This family of brown bears were seen in Grand Teton National Park next to the Snake River. 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]> Follow us! ConservAmerica, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington DC, United States Unsubscribe <[link removed]>