WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Reps. Scott Tipton (R-CO) and Mark Amodei (R-NV) introduced with bipartisan support the Water Rights Protection Act to protect privately held water rights from federal takings and uphold longstanding state water law. Reps. Rob Bishop (R-UT), Tom McClintock (R-CA), and Jared Polis (D-CO) are original co-sponsors. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is currently pushing the federal government’s latest attempt to disregard state law and take private water rights, despite objections from elected officials, business owners, private property advocates and a U.S. District Court ruling. Read more »
Washington, DC – Members of the Colorado Congressional delegation in the House of Representatives introduced a bipartisan bill today that would lift the cap on funds appropriated in the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013. Currently, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) emergency relief funds are capped at $100 million per state and incident. The legislation would lift the cap for the purpose of rebuilding roads and bridges, many of which provide vital access to towns and communities that have since been cut-off due to the unprecedented flooding. Estimates now put the number of bridges that have been damaged or destroyed above 50. Read more »
Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis voted for H.R. 527, the Helium Stewardship Act, and the U.S. House passed it 367-0. The Act, in addition to securing a stable supply of helium, restores $60 million of the money owed to Wyoming by the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Fund and reduces the royalty rate on Soda Ash from 6 percent to 4 percent for the next two years. Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The full House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Thursday on the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2013 (H.R. 687), legislation that authorizes a land exchange that would open up the largest copper mine in North America and create more than 3,700 local jobs. The mine would also generate more than $61.4 billion of economic activity and could supply 25 percent or more of the nation’s domestic copper demand. Read more »
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last Friday issued its highly-anticipated proposal to limit carbon emissions from new power plants. The new regulations would effectively require new coal plants to use carbon capture and storage technology which is not yet commercially viable. Read more »
WASHINGTON – Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-2) praised the passage of H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday. Read more »
Washington, D.C. (September 20, 2013) – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new regulations today on carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Complying with the outlined regulations would require carbon capture technologies that are currently untested, unproven and heavily subsidized by the federal government. Western Caucus Co-Chairs Steve Pearce and Cynthia Lummis released the following statements in response to the announcement: Read more »
Washington, D.C. (September 20, 2013) –Earlier this year, the Congressional Western Caucus held a field hearing in Denver, Colorado to discuss the pressing issue of how to empower states and local governments in the management of our forests. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1526, the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, to do just that. This bipartisan legislation encourages state and local involvement in the management of forest land, helps ensure sustainable funding solutions for schools, and will hold the U.S. Forest Service accountable for keeping our forests healthy. Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Daines today condemned the Obama administration’s attempts to wage a war on American energy by imposing new regulations that force higher energy costs upon American families and will cost good paying Montana jobs. Read more »
Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis joined a bipartisan majority of her colleagues in passing H.R. 1526, the Restoring Healthy Forest for Healthy Communities Act. The bill rededicates the Forest Service to proactive forest management, gives state and local voices more input, and provides stable timber revenue for rural counties. H.R. 1526’s reforms are designed to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and infestations like the mountain pine beetle epidemic. Read more »
