Press Releases

Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA) has proposed an amendment #90 to the first House minibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2740) that would block funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to finalize an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska. The proposed amendment represents the second time federal policymakers have attempted to side-step regular order for consideration of the proposed mine under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) – which is often referred to as the ‘Magna Carta of environmental law’. Previously, the Obama Administration’s EPA took the unprecedented step of issuing a preemptive veto for the project before project sponsors had even submitted an application or otherwise provided details regarding the proposed mine. Read more »

Members of the Senate and Congressional Western Caucus released statements praising action by the U.S. Forest Service to revise the National Environmental Protection Act. Read more »

Today, the Trump Administration released a government-wide action plan to reduce U.S. dependence on critical minerals from foreign sources like China. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Members of the Western Caucus released statements applauding the Department of the Interior’s action to increase transparency and accountability in attorney’s fees and costs. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Joe Balash and Members of the Western Caucus released statements following the reinstatement of two Twin Metals Minnesota LLC-held hardrock mineral leases located on the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Gosar released a statement criticizing partisan provisions included in the Interior and Energy & Water Appropriations Bills that were released. Read more »

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms out there! This year, Members of the Western Caucus shared stories about their moms, recognized their sacrifices and said thank you. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Members of the Western Caucus released statements following a Western Caucus-led effort supported by 63 Members of the House of Representatives urging the House Budget Committee to reject two budget requests: 1) The fundamentally-flawed proposal that aims to sell the transmission assets of three of the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); and 2) The suggested switch to market-based pricing structure from the present at-cost pricing structure of the four PMAs. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Members of the Western Caucus released statements of support for Chief Infrastructure and Forestry Officer Bruce Westerman's (AR-04) reintroduction of the The Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2019. Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Members of the Western Caucus released statements applauding the reintroduction of Congressman Amodei's (NV-02) bill, the "National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act" while slamming Rep. Grijalva's anti-mining legislation. Read more »