Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Paul Gosar released the following statement after being re-elected to a second term as Chairman:

Chairman Paul Gosar: "It is an honor and an privilege to be re-elected as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus for the 116^th Congress. Over the past two years, we as a Caucus have accomplished so much. From introducing and passing a multitude of legislation to exponentially growing the membership of the Caucus, all of this could not have been possible without the tireless work of our Members and staff. It is because of their efforts that the Western Caucus is a successful and effective Congressional organization."

Background:
The text of the two motions that passed the 11-Member Executive Committee via unanimous consent is as follows:

1. A motion to obtain unanimous consent from the Executive Committee to retain the current Congressional Western Caucus Executive Committee for the 116^th Congress, with the exception of Mr. Pearce who will be leaving after the 115^th Congress, but still allow for new Executive Committee Members to be added if they meet the Executive Membership requirements.
2. A motion to obtain unanimous consent from the Executive Committee in order to retain current Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Paul Gosar as Chairman for the 116^th Congress.

Since assuming the Chairmanship, Chairman Gosar has been successful in accomplishing the policy and organizational objectives of the Western Caucus. Listed below are highlights of the Western Caucus over the past two years:

1. Recruited 49 new dues-paying members and increased membership to 79 total members.
2. Spearheaded introduction of 14 Congressional Review Act bills that rolled back Obama regulations; 3 were signed into law, and 8 were acted on by the Administration.
3. Secured additional $576.5 million for wildfires and active forest management language. 
4. Blocked the Obama Administration’s power-grabbing BLM Planning 2.0 Rule via law.
5. Passed active forest management provisions and budget fix into law.
6. Prevented a new “dirt tax” and new fees for hardrock mining in President’s budget.
7. Spearheaded effort that cancelled the 425,000-acre Obama land grab in Minnesota.
8. Authored WOTUS repeal language included in three House passed bills.
9. Ensured strong forestry title & healthy crop of Caucus’ priorities in Farm Bill.
10. Authored bipartisan Endangered Species Act Modernization Package; unprecedented rollout, 170+ endorsements, hearing on 9 bills, 4 bills passed Committee to date.
11. Passed the Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act into law; 300 votes in House.
12. Led efforts on monument review that shrunk footprint in Utah by over 2 million acres.
13. Prevented the sale off the transmission assets of the PMAs within DOE.
14. Led Congressional efforts to scrap Obama’s duplicative EPA CERCLA Rule.
15. Passed provision into law to open up Section 1002 of ANWR for energy production.
16. Led successful effort to scrap Obama’s 10-million-acre Sage Grouse mineral withdrawal.
17. Blocked outrageous fee increases that threatened whitewater rafting and outfitter jobs.
18. Passed a dozen+ Interior Approps amendments and delisted gray wolves in House bill.
19. Passed bill through House to protect the operations of the four Lower Snake River Dams.
20. Attached streamlined permitting for critical and strategic minerals to House NDAA.

Western Caucus Bylaws require Executive Committee Membership for at least one calendar year prior to running for Chairman of the Caucus. Executive Committee Membership is currently available to any interested Western Caucus Member that meets Executive Membership requirements. Western Caucus bylaws allow for future Chairman to be selected via unanimous consent by the Executive Committee or through a nine-member Selection Committee.

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