Washington, D.C. (June 2, 2014) - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency released a proposed rule to regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants. This regulation is a follow up to last year’s proposed regulations on new power plants and part of the administration’s greater “War on Coal.” Coal is responsible for nearly 40% of America’s electricity generation. The regulations proposed today will have a devastating impact on the economy, energy prices, grid reliability, and jobs. Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a report revealing that the regulations will cost the economy $50 billion a year in GDP between now and 2030 and will result in the loss of 224,000 jobs a year over the same timeframe. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (May, 22,2014) - Earlier this week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a plan to help 94 national forests in 35 states deal with insect and disease threats that increase the risk of catastrophic wildfire. The designations were made possible by the passage of the 2014 Farm bill, which amended the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 to allow the Forest Service to more efficiently plan and accomplish restoration treatments. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (May 16, 2014) – Documents released recently reveal that the Environmental Protection Agency may have delayed publication of its New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) rules in order to help Democrats in the 2014 midterm elections. The agency waited until November 25, 2013 to submit their rule to the Federal Register, two months after it releasing it to the public. Due to this late submission, the Federal Register was not able to publish the rule until January 8, 2014. This means that the earliest Congress can hold a vote to repeal the rule is January of 2015. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2014) - This week EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy lashed out against the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other critics who believe the agency should grant public access to its scientific data. On Monday, McCarthy said to the National Academy of Sciences that EPA’s “Science is real and verifiable.” The EPA has resisted all attempts to publicize the scientific data used to implement its regulations. This “secret science” was used by the EPA to implement 98% of its air regulations between 2002 and 2012, most of which have had devastating economic impacts. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (March 20, 2014) – In February, US Forest Service officers and canine units conducted a raid on the Taos Ski Valley. Multiple tickets were issued for various offenses, including driving with a cracked windshield. According to the Taos News, it was part of a “saturation patrol,” due to a demand from the Director of the Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations, David Ferrell, that officers reach a quota of 100 citations annually. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (April 9, 2014) – This afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Con.Res. 96, the Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2015, with a vote of 219-205. The fiscal year 2015 Budget Resolution balances the budget in ten years by cutting spending by $5.1 trillion, and it ensures greater access to federal lands for energy exploration, better forest management, wildfire suppression, and balanced land management. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (April 1, 2014) – Last week the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) released a new report profiling a former EPA staffer that was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for stealing over $900,00 in taxpayer money. John C. Beale was no ordinary EPA staffer; in fact, he was a senior policy advisor and highest-paid employee at the EPA by the time he resigned in April 2013. Before being sentenced, Beale admitted to taking months of paid time off by making colleagues believe that he was working for the CIA. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2014) – Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced their decision to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken under the Endangered Species Act. Members of the Congressional Western Caucus responded to this decision with the following statements: Read more »
Washington, D.C. (March 26, 2014) – This afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1459, the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act with a vote of 222-201. This legislation allows the American people to have a say in the decision-making process leading up to a national monument designation. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (February 4, 2014) –On the same day President Obama delivered his fifth State of the Union address, Congressional Democrats sought to stop a bill that would have created nearly 74,000 acres of new wilderness. The partisan showdown at the Natural Resources Committee was right in line with President Obama’s anti-Congress narrative during his speech. In his speech, President Obama threatened local communities and Congressional leaders by saying he would “use his authority [under the Antiquities Act] to protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations."
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