Last week, the Western Caucus Foundation hosted a trip to Yosemite National Park that brought together the Senate and House Western Caucuses as well as key stakeholders out west for a multi-day event. While getting to explore the gorgeous Yosemite National Park was an unforgettable experience, getting to spend quality time with people who work and live off the land out west was invaluable. Too often in Washington decisions are made with no input from affected citizens and stakeholders. Our government exists to serve the people and the Senate Western Caucus is working to flip the script in Washington by beginning each policy debate with the question of, “How can we improve the lives of the people out west?” During the trip, Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and staff were able to have extensive conversations with industry leaders about maintaining a sustainable water supply, involving local leaders in land management decisions, implementing proactive forest management policies and many more important topics.  | | Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Western Caucus Foundation Executive Director Darrell Henry. |
We hope to see you at a future Western Caucus event, where we promise you will have fun and maybe even learn something new. | | | | Wildfire HearingWe began the trip with the House Natural Resources Committee holding a field hearing, Conservation in a Crown Jewel: A Discussion About Wildfires and Forest Management, featuring members of the Congressional Western Caucus.Wildfires are unfortunately a part of life out west, but we can do our part to limit the damage by ensuring that brush and other overgrowth that could serve as fuel for a fire is properly cleared before wildfire season begins.Water Policy Luncheon Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA) for a discussion about maintaining a sustainable water supply with Aubrey Bettencourt of the Almond Alliance and Jason Phillips of the Friant Water Authority.They discussed how ranchers and farmers are the most invested in finding reliable water sources that provide water today and in the future. The best way to ensure future generations have access to water is by working with local communities, not by implementing a one-size-fits all approach.Glacier PointSen. Lummis, along with staff from several Senate offices had the pleasure of getting outside for the day and hiking to the top of Glacier Point in Yosemite with Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon (pictured to the left).During the hike, they discussed the importance of preserving America’s national parks for future generations. Their unmatched natural beauty is something that can only be properly appreciated in-person and it would be a shame if future generations were not able to experience the awe-inspiring wonder that the great outdoors provides.Energy Policy DinnerTo close out the trip, Sen. Lummis spoke about how to both properly protect the environment out west while still unleashing western energy producers who power our nation.Many in Washington try and say that we must make a choice between energy independence and clean air and water. There is no need to make such a choice. As we saw during the Trump administration, America can be a net energy exporter while also lowering our net emissions. | |
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| | Senate Western Caucus in the News | | Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (R-WA) joined Sen. Lummis in an interview with RFD-TV to talk about why the Biden administration’s attempt to add conservation as an approved public land use would be a disaster for the west.Beyond being a complete regulatory overreach by the federal government, the rule also gives control to radical activists instead of trusting those who live and work off the land to continue responsibly managing the resources as they have done for generations.Click here to watch the interview. | |
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CONTACT US
Andrew Williams
Executive Director
Senate Western Caucus
Russell Senate Office Building
Suite 127A
(202) 224-3424 |
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