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Protecting Wyoming from Out of Control Wildfires

This week, I introduced the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act. This legislation protects firefighters, public lands and communities in Wyoming from the devastating impacts of wildfires by creating a Clean Water Act exemption for federal, state, local and tribal firefighting agencies to use fire retardant on wildfires.

There are absurd efforts afoot to ban forest managers and firefighters from using aerial fire retardants to fight fires. This would cause forest fires to burn longer and put people, homes and wildlife at risk.

Radical environmental activists have no idea how dangerous it would be to take away the ability to use fire retardant when fighting a wildfire. Wildland firefighters in Wyoming and throughout the west need to be able to use every tool available to them in order to control wildfires.

I introduced this bill in the Senate alongside Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Risch (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) introduced the House companion bill.

I will work hard to get this bill passed and to the president’s desk so we can ensure our wildland firefighters are prepared to take on another fire season this year.

Happy Trails,

WORKING IN WASHINGTON

Legislative Action:

I sent a letter alongside Senator John Barrasso and Harriet Hageman, both R-WY, to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore criticizing their agencies for failing to protect Wyoming from the increased threat of catastrophic wildfires.
- Wildfires are unfortunately a part of life in Wyoming and the Biden administration’s oversight in including Wyoming in their planning is pure negligence. I will always fight to protect the people and property of our beautiful state.
I cosponsored Senator John Thune’s (R-SD) Death Tax Repeal Act which would repeal the death tax on farms and ranches.
- When a Wyoming rancher passes, the last thing their family needs is the government knocking on their door with a massive tax bill, especially when that tax bill does not consider what form their assets take. Many of these families have little to no liquid assets available to pay a tax bill since their assets are their land, farm equipment and buildings. This legislation will protect family farms and ranches and also preserve family legacies for future generations.

Committee Hearing:

In a hearing for the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee on the implementation of the Drinking Water and Wasterwater Infrastructure Act, I questioned US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox about bureaucratic backlogs hurting towns and small water systems across Wyoming. I asked for an update from the EPA on a letter sent to EPA Administrator Michael Regan dated January 25, 2023, concerning the EPA’s Memorandum to State Drinking Water Administrators on Public Water System Cybersecurity. Click here to watch my remarks.

Major Votes:

Cloture on S. 316, Senator Tim Kaine’s bill to repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force (AUMF) against Iraq.
Supported
- The outdated AUMFs need to be repealed so they are not used beyond their original intent. This legislation does not impact the 2001 AUMF which gives the president the authority to go after terrorist groups.

WORKING IN WYOMING

Media:

I joined CNBC’s Brian Sullivan to discuss how the people of Wyoming will be impacted by the Biden administration’s response to recent bank failures and the threat posed by Tik Tok.

Watch the interview here.

I joined Fox Business’ Neil Cavuto to talk about how bailing out Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank could punish Wyoming banks that followed the rules. This will only further encourage risky investment decisions by banks in the future.

Watch the interview here.

Working in Wyoming:

As debate swirled in Washington about the second and third largest bank failures in American history, I stood firm in my commitment to be all Wyoming all the time. I am strongly against the Biden administration’s plan to force Wyoming’s community banks to pay additional fees to bail out wealthy investors who lost money because of risky investments by Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.

Furthermore, I refuse to let these isolated risky investments, combined with the negligence of federal regulators, serve as a backdoor for more regulation. More red tape would unnecessarily increase the burden on Wyoming banks and credit unions that follow the rules.

News Around Wyoming:

The Best Small Towns in Wyoming You Need To Visit
Laramie Live
There aren't too many people in Wyoming, but that's why we like it. It's funny to think of Casper as the big city. However, people from smaller towns visit the Oil City because we have a Walmart, a Target, and an Olive Garden.

We are big time compared to some of the smaller cities. Now, that's no disrespect. In many ways, these small communities are hidden treasures of our state. We asked our audience on Facebook this: Small towns are underrated. What is the "best" small town in Wyoming? What makes them hidden gems? We got a lot of good feedback.

At 511 inches, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Closes In On Season Snow Record
Cowboy State Daily
Across the state, everyone’s talking about how much snow they’ve plowed, blowed and shoveled from one place to another.

On the slopes at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, more than 500 inches have fallen so far this winter.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WYOMING

EDA Publishes Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has published a new Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (PWEAA) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The FY23 PWEAA NOFO outlines application submission requirements and review procedures for applications received under EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) programs.

The Public Works program provides resources to meet the construction and/or infrastructure design needs of communities to enable them to become more economically competitive.

Supported activities under EDA’s EAA program include construction and non-construction such as construction or upgrading of public infrastructure, sectoral partnerships for workforce training, design and engineering, technical assistance, economic recovery strategies, and capitalization or re-capitalization of Revolving Loan Funds (RLF).

There are no application submission deadlines and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

Click here for more information and a master list of upcoming funding announcements

WYOMING SHOUT OUT

Unfortunately, mental health challenges have plagued too many of our communities in recent years. This week, we received good news, learning the number of suicides decreased in Wyoming for the first time since 2018. While I am committed to working to lower that number to zero, I am encouraged with this positive step for our state. As part of my effort to help those struggling, my staff participated in a Mental Health Wellness Fair in Shell, WY to highlight the importance of destigmatizing mental health concerns and making sure appropriate resources are available to those in need. I would like to recognize Stan Flitner, Patty Flynn Elliot and Barb Fiedler for the tremendous effort they put into the program and addressing mental health concerns across Wyoming.

OFFICE LOCATIONS

Cody

1285 Sheridan Avenue, Suite 215
Cody, WY 82414
Phone: 307-527-9444

Cheyenne

Federal Center
2120 Capitol Avenue, Suite 2007
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: 307-772-2477

Casper

Dick Cheney Federal Bldg.
100 East B Street, Suite 3201
PO Box 33201
Casper, WY 82601
Phone: 307-261-6572

Sundance

120 North 4th Street (769)
P.O. Box 769
Sundance, WY 82729
Phone: 307-283-3461

Star Valley

80 1st Street
Suite 105
P.O. Box 1630
Afton, WY 83110
Phone: 307-248-1736

Washington, DC

Russell Senate Office Building
Room SR 124
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3424