OPINION: A blueprint for real conservation

| Posted in Opinion Pieces

This piece was originally published in The Hill. Conservation is engrained within our western way of life. Our livelihood and quality of life out West is reliant upon healthy landscapes which is why we take pride in stewarding the land for current and future generations. Western land users should be seen as partners for accomplishing our conservation goals, not…

What They Are Saying: The Western Conservation Principles

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On October 5, Congressional Western Caucus and Senate Western Caucus Members unveiled a blueprint for effective, science-based conservation titled, "Western Conservation Principles." In contrast to the Biden Administration's top-down preservationist approach, also known as the "30 by 30 initiative," the Principles embrace the policies, tools, and values recognized…

Western Caucus Members Unveil Blueprint for Conservation

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressional Western Caucus and Senate Western Caucus Members revealed a holistic, outcome-based conservation proposal titled, “Western Conservation Principles.” The proposal, which serves as an alternative to the Biden Administration’s "30 by 30 initiative" and America the Beautiful report, is a blueprint for responsible, effective conservation…

Newhouse, Westerman Respond to Gray Wolf ESA Listing Review

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) completed initial reviews of two petitions to list gray wolves in the western United States under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). USFWS subsequently announced they would initiate a 12-month comprehensive status review of the gray wolf. Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Vice Chair Bruce Westerman (AR-04)…

OPINION: Tracy Stone-Manning is dangerous for Washington and for rural America

| Posted in Opinion Pieces

This piece was originally published in the Spokesman-Review. Tracy Stone-Manning is an unacceptable nominee to serve as Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). More information about her past comes to light every day, each new piece more damning than the last. I have called on President Biden to rescind her nomination immediately, and now our senators must take a stand…

Western Caucus Members Urge Administration to Consider Successful State and Local Sage-Grouse Conservation Efforts

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Western Caucus and Senate Western Caucus Members, led by Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Vice Chair Bruce Westerman (AR-04), and Senator Cynthia Lummis (WY), sent a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in response to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recent announcement to initiate a review of land management plans for the…

OPINION: For greater sage grouse success, local control matters

| Posted in Opinion Pieces

This piece was originally published in The Hill. Although we hail from different regions of the country, we share the belief that land management decisions are most effective when made by local communities using the best available science. This is especially true when considering listing species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Local experts and communities offer important…

Western Caucus Members Urge Modernization of Endangered Species Act

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) hosted a Special Order to discuss the successes and failures of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), highlight species recovery efforts across the country, and promote commonsense policies to modernize the landmark species protection law.   Western Caucus Members spoke about the impacts of local ESA listings on local…

Newhouse, Bentz Host Virtual Forum to Highlight Mismanagement of the Northern Spotted Owl

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, hosted a virtual forum titled, “The Impacts of a Weaponized Endangered Species Act: The Case of the Northern Spotted Owl,” to highlight the mismanagement of the Northern Spotted Owl in the Pacific Northwest. The…

Interior Announces the Delisting of the Gray Wolf in the Lower 48

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, members of the Western Caucus released the following statements after Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced the delisting of the gray wolf in the lower 48 states.  “Today is a great victory for science and professional wildlife management.  The gray wolf is one of the few actual success stories of the Endangered Species Act and has met every scientific…

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