Washington, D.C.— This week, Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released a statement celebrating six bills introduced by Senate Western Caucus Members passing out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
“This week’s committee action represents real progress for Western communities,”said Lummis. “These bills address urgent priorities from protecting our historic roadways and strengthening wildfire response to enhancing visitor safety in our national parks. I’m also particularly proud we’re moving forward with Senator Barrasso and my legislation that honors former Wyoming Representative Barbara Cubin’s legacy. The Senate Western Caucus will continue fighting to get these measures signed into law.”
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Historic Roads Prevention Act:
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senator John Curtis (R-UT)
The Historic Roads Preservation Act prevents the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from using federal funds to finalize or implement travel management plans in Utah that would close roads claimed under Revised Statute 2477 (R.S. 2477) until all legal cases determining ownership of these historic rights-of-way have been fully resolved. The bill responds to a Biden-era BLM travel management plan that closed 317 miles of roads near Moab, including 114 miles of R.S. 2477 roads, while 22 Utah counties are still litigating over 12,500 right-of-way claims to preserve public access to these historic roads. By blocking implementation of these closures, the legislation ensures the BLM cannot restrict access to roads over which it may lack jurisdiction while the courts determine their legal status.
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT)
The Western Wildfire Support Act authorizes funding for cutting-edge firefighting equipment, creating new training programs for federal and local firefighters, and supporting wildfire recovery efforts throughout impacted landscapes and surrounding areas.
Making National Parks Safer Act
Senator John Barrasso (R-WY)
The Making National Parks Safer Act will direct the Department of Interior to complete an assessment of current call centers at national parks and the estimated cost of implementing NG911 technology across the National Park System. It also develops a plan based on the assessment to install NG911 systems at identified points in the National Park System. This plan must include consultation with state and local emergency operations and stakeholders, as well as relevant federal agencies to ensure its successful implementation.
A bill to redesignate the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, as the “Barbara L. Cubin National Historic Trails Interpretive Center”
Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY)
In 1998, then-Rep. Barbara Cubin successfully passed her legislation establishing the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper to tell the stories of westward migration in the U.S. The center is owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is run through a public-private partnership with the BLM, the National Historic Trails Center Foundation and the City of Casper.
Rep. Cubin was the first woman to win an election for federal office in the state of Wyoming and served as a founding member of the Congressional Western Caucus. She represented Wyoming in the U.S. House from 1995-2009.
Moab UMTRA Project Transition Act
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senator John Curtis (R-UT)
The Moab UMTRA Project Transition Act authorizes the transfer of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) site to Grand County, Utah, once cleanup is complete. The bill aims to facilitate redevelopment of the former Atlas Minerals site after the U.S. Department of Energy finishes moving over 16 million tons of tailings.
A bill to extend the authority for modifications to the Second Division Memorial in the District of Columbia
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
This legislation seeks to extend the authority for modifications to the Second Division Memorial in the District of Columbia. The bill, currently before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, provides a new seven-year authorization to allow for the continued addition of names of fallen veterans from recent conflicts.
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