Washington, D.C. (December 3, 2015) – Today the U.S. House passed with a bipartisan majority H.R.8: the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015. As amended, the bill lifts the crude oil export ban, put in place as a response to the oil embargo resulting from the Yom Kippur War in 1973, and expedites the stagnate approval process for American liquefied natural gas (LNG). This bill also promotes development of energy infrastructure projects by requiring hard deadlines for environmental reviews and permitting. The bill specifically addresses infrastructure impediments on federal lands, by requiring the designation of pipeline corridors across federal lands and by including legislation introduced by Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-At-large) to improve the management of electrical transmission rights-of-way across federal land whose reliability is threatened by mismanaged forests. Rep. Kevin Cramer’s (ND-At large) amendment, adopted by the full House, ensures utilities are able to carry out this rights-of-way management in a responsible and cost-effective manner. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (December 1, 2015) – Today a majority in the U.S. House voted on two separate bills to disapprove of both the EPA rule on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Power Plants and the EPA rule on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing Power Plants. These rules, if left unchecked, would have serious impacts on energy prices for American families across the country. The rules would also, in effect, ban the construction of new coal-fired power plants. The resolutions of disapproval have already passed the Senate and now go to the White House. Read more »
Today Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At large), along with other caucus members, joined a letter led by Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09) sent to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (KY-05) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (NY-17) to oppose fulfilling President Obama’s funding request for the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (November 6, 2015) – Today President Obama has rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large) released the following statement in response: Read more »
Washington, D.C. (November 6, 2015) – Yesterday, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01) released a discussion draft of legislation to reauthorize and reform the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The draft bill, titled Protecting America’s Recreation and Conservation (PARC) Act, would make the LWCF work more effectively for public lands, states, and communities. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (October 22, 2015) – Today the U.S. House passed, with a bipartisan vote, H.R. 1937: the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015. This legislation addresses delays in the permitting of American mining projects, which can currently take seven to ten years or longer. This bill requires the lead permitting agency to identify a project lead to coordinate with all involved, set and adhere to deadlines, establish clear goals, and track progress. It also allows state reviews to count towards federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, and streamlines judicial review and litigation. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (October 9th, 2015) – Today the U.S. House voted 261-159 to increase American energy production and spur economic growth by passing bipartisan legislation to lift the 40 year old ban on crude oil exports. The export ban was put in place in 1975 in response to the Arab oil embargo. Since then the U.S. has become a leading producer of oil in the world, but the policy has not changed, jeopardizing the ability of American production to stay globally competitive. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (October 8th, 2015) – Today the U.S. House passed with a bipartisan vote H.R.538: the Native American Energy Act. This legislation empowers tribes to develop more of their natural resources and loosens federal bureaucratic restrictions which are often duplicative and can add years of delay. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (October 8th, 2015) – Reports are in that yesterday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency caused a spill of 2,000 gallons while working on a cleanup site at the Standard Mine in central western Colorado. The EPA failed to notify federal officials including Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-03) and has yet to comment on the spill. Information from local officials indicates that roughly 2,000 gallons of gray wastewater was released from the site. Work had recently resumed from a temporary halt after the August 5 blowout at Gold King Mine. Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final rule for surface-level ozone. Senate Western Caucus Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) and Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statements: Read more »
