Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) led 24 Members of the Western Caucus in sending a letter to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Tracy Stone-Manning urging the approval of the herbicide Rejuvra on BLM lands to help grazing permittees eliminate cheatgrass, an invasive species. Rejuvra has already been approved for use by the Forest Service and the EPA.

“Cheatgrass is wreaking havoc on rangelands across the west, causing unnecessary problems for farmers and ranchers,” said Chairman Newhouse. “Given that there are limited resources to combat cheatgrass, we urge BLM to follow the Forest Service and EPA’s lead and approve the use of Rejuvra on their lands immediately. This action is critical for providing relief to ranchers so they can get ahead of this devastating invasive species before its growing cycle begins again in Spring 2024.”

“Cultivating healthy, native forage is fundamental to the resiliency of rangeland ecosystems and the productivity of the Western livestock industry,” said Sigrid Johannes, Director, Public Lands Council. “Federal agencies should utilize every proven tool on the table to combat invasive species like cheatgrass, especially in fire-prone areas. There is no reason to allow bureaucratic delay to bench a tool that has been vetted as a valuable option for controlling invasive annual grasses.”

Cheatgrass outcompetes native plants due to its short root system and therefore leaves little nutritious forage for grazing species and its annual nature allows rangeland to be more susceptible to wildfires.
 
Signers of the letter are Reps. Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), David Rouzer (NC-07), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Lauren Boebert (CO-03), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Tom McClintock (CA-05), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), John Duarte (CA-13), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Burgess Owens (UT-04), Jim Baird (IN-04), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), Mark Amodei (NV-02), Ryan Zinke (MT-01), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Eli Crane (AZ-02) and Matt Rosendale (MT-02). The letter is also supported by the Public Lands Council.
 
Read the full letter here.

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