Press Releases

WASHINGTON,D.C.- President Obama announced today that he is nominating Gina McCarthy to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). McCarthy is currently the Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, which oversees air quality policy implementation. Western Caucus Chairman Steve Pearce released the following statement in response to the announcement: Read more »

Washington, D.C. (February 28, 2013) – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Director Dan Ashe sent a letter yesterday to a group of 15 Western Members of Congress who previously expressed concern with the potential listing of the lesser prairie chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In the letter, Director Ashe stated that the public comment period would be re-opened to allow affected communities more time to comment on the widely supported conservation plan proposed by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). Western Members of Congress released the following statements in response to the letter: Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Senate Western Caucus Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) and Congressional Western Caucus co-chairs Stevan Pearce (R-NM) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined 22 other Caucus Members in sending a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar urging the Administration to withdraw Secretarial Order 3321, which establishes the “National Blueways” program. Read more »

Washington, D.C. (February 5, 2013) – Today, Utah Congressman Chris Stewart announced his membership with the Congressional Western Caucus. The Caucus is in its twentieth year of advocating for Western and rural interests in Congress. Read more »

Washington, D.C. (February 4, 2013) – Western Caucus Co-Chairmen Steve Pearce (NM-02) and Cynthia Lummis (WY), along with Chairman Emeritus Rob Bishop (UT-01), today urged the House of Representatives to consider energy development on federal lands as a way to increase revenues without having to increase taxes on the middle-class. Read more »

Washington, D.C. (February 1, 2013) – Today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS) proposed to list the wolverine as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposal comes despite the wolverine’s large and growing population in North America, estimated to be at the highest point in 60 years. The timing of this proposal was dictated by the multi-district settlement resulting from litigation brought against the USFWS by WildEarth Guardians and the Center for Biological Diversity. In response, Western Caucus Co-Chair, Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), issued the following statement: Read more »

Washington, D.C. (January 30, 2013) – Today, Congressman Matt Salmon (R-AZ) announced his membership with the Congressional Western Caucus. The Caucus is in its twentieth year of advocating for Western and rural interests in Congress. Read more »

Washington, D.C. (January 23, 2013) –Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman announced Tuesday his approval of the rerouted Keystone XL oil pipeline path through Nebraska, leaving the final verdict on the construction of this pipeline up to President Obama. Members of the Congressional Western Caucus released the following statements urging President Obama to approve this project: Read more »

Washington, D.C. (January 23, 2013) – Today, Oklahoma Congressman Markwayne Mullin announced his membership with the Congressional Western Caucus. The Caucus is in its twentieth year of advocating for Western and rural interests in Congress. Read more »

WASHINGTON,D.C.- In response to Secretary Ken Salazar’s announcement Wednesday that he will be leaving his post at the Department of the Interior in March, the Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Western Caucus released the following statements: Read more »