Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (November 18, 2016) – Today Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced the latest five year offshore leasing plan that fails to take advantage of America’s offshore resources, cutting available leases and restricting production. Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At large) issued the following statement in… Read more »

Washington, D.C. (November 15, 2016)—Today Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced finalization of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) new rule on methane venting and flaring. The rule duplicates state regulations already in place and increases costs on energy production.  Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At large) issued the following… Read more »

Washington, D.C. (September 15th, 2016) –Today, President Obama announced his unilateral creation of a 4,900 square mile ocean monument. These waters in the newly created Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument off the Atlantic coast have been a primary source of livelihood for New England fishermen. Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At… Read more »

Washington, D.C. (September 13th, 2016) – Last week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) canceled research into how to most humanely and effectively spay and neuter wild horses and burros. Responsible sterilization could help stem the exploding wild horse populations on federal lands in the West. Yet the BLM dropped the project under the threat of litigation by a special… Read more »

Washington, D.C. (September 1st, 2016) –The gray wolf is clearly recovered, but remains listed as endangered in the majority of Washington State and across the U.S. For the latest Congressional Western Caucus video highlighting the recovery of the gray wolf in Washington’s 4th congressional district, represented by Congressman Dan Newhouse. Read more »

Washington, D.C. (August 26th, 2016) – Today President Obama unilaterally enlarged the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument off the coast of Hawaii by 442,781 square miles.   Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At large) issued the following statement in response: “By creating monuments out of thin air or expanding already existing… Read more »

Washington, D.C. (August 24th, 2016)– The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is approaching the end of a five year, 757 species work plan dictated by a court order drafted behind closed doors because of lawsuits brought by litigation happy groups like the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD). Now the CBD is threatening to sue again on an additional 417 species, including 87… Read more »

Washington, D.C. (August 24th, 2016)–Today, President Barack Obama ignored local and state input by using the Antiquities Act to unilaterally designate 87,500 acres of lands in Maine as the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. President Obama and Secretary Jewell have backpedaled on their own promise to conduct a robust public process prior to making any decision. Read more »

Washington, D.C. (August 2nd, 2016) – Yesterday, President Obama’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) finalized guidance directing all federal agencies to incorporate climate change into their decision-making processes under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This guidance applies to a broad swath of federal actions and permits, including public land and… Read more »

Washington, D.C. (July 14th, 2016) – Today, after working late into the night, the U.S. House passed H.R.5538: the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017. Western Caucus Members secured a host of provisions reining in Obama Administration regulatory overreach and ensuring more responsible stewardship of western lands and natural… Read more »